temporarily occupied Crimea

“Driving her to death”: the sister of Crimean activist Iryna Danylovych spoke about the conditions in a Russian colony
News - 01 April 2026

“Driving her to death”: the sister of Crimean activist Iryna Danylovych spoke about the conditions in a Russian colony

According to Danylovych's sister, appeals to the duty unit sometimes help, but more often, she is ignored or rudely refused treatment

Russia intensifies combat training for high schoolers in occupied Crimea — Irade human rights initiative
News - 25 March 2026

Russia intensifies combat training for high schoolers in occupied Crimea — Irade human rights initiative

These actions directly violate Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits occupying powers from both compelling civilians to serve in their armed forces or conducting propaganda to secure voluntary enlistment

Russia plans to deploy all mobilized citizens of Ukraine from occupied Crimea to combat operations
News - 23 March 2026

Russia plans to deploy all mobilized citizens of Ukraine from occupied Crimea to combat operations

Starting April 1, 2026, Russia plans to deploy all individuals mobilized from temporarily occupied Crimea into active combat. Specifically, there are plans to replace wounded and "unfit" personnel within the 810th Marine Brigade, stationed in Sevastopol, with these newly mobilized residents

“He wanted Henichesk to have its own voice”. The story of Hennadii Osmak, a journalist imprisoned by Russian occupying forces
Articles - 19 March 2026

“He wanted Henichesk to have its own voice”. The story of Hennadii Osmak, a journalist imprisoned by Russian occupying forces

To learn more about the journalist’s work and the circumstances of his detention and imprisonment, ZMINA spoke with his colleague and a person close to the journalist, whose name we cannot disclose for safety reasons

Ukraine has imposed sanctions against Russian judges who passed illegal sentences on Ukrainian prisoners of war — full list
News - 12 March 2026

Ukraine has imposed sanctions against Russian judges who passed illegal sentences on Ukrainian prisoners of war — full list

According to the Geneva Conventions, POWs cannot be prosecuted for their participation in military operations. However, the Russian Federation disregards these norms and puts Ukrainian soldiers on trial, for instance, for their participation in the operation in the Kursk region

Zelenskyy joins Muslim soldiers for Ramadan Iftar
News - 03 March 2026

Zelenskyy joins Muslim soldiers for Ramadan Iftar

The Head of State thanked all the defenders present, their brothers- and sisters-in-arms, for defending Ukraine and Ukrainians, strengthening our country, and being part of the shared strength of an independent Ukraine

The lesson of Crimea: Rewarding aggression only invites more war
Columns - 26 February 2026

The lesson of Crimea: Rewarding aggression only invites more war

Every year on February 26, Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. This date commemorates the largest resistance rally held outside the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Not just Ukraine — Russia is preparing Ukrainian children for future wars elsewhere
Columns - 24 February 2026

Not just Ukraine — Russia is preparing Ukrainian children for future wars elsewhere

As of 2026, the Russian Federation has invested 78,4 million rubles into its youth education programme. In temporarily occupied territories, Russians strive to erase Ukrainian culture and replace it with a Russian identity that is loyal to the state and willing to die for Russia

“Mum, I don’t want to go back there…”: blind political prisoner Sizikov was released from a penal colony on health grounds, but then the decision was overturned
Articles - 20 February 2026

“Mum, I don’t want to go back there…”: blind political prisoner Sizikov was released from a penal colony on health grounds, but then the decision was overturned

Political prisoner’s mother, Olena Sizikova, spoke about what he had to endure in the colony, how he adapted to life at home after prison, and the circumstances of his new detention

Disqualified skeleton racer Heraskevych and German initiative Athletes for Peace launch campaign for fallen Ukrainian athletes’ families (updated)
News - 15 February 2026

Disqualified skeleton racer Heraskevych and German initiative Athletes for Peace launch campaign for fallen Ukrainian athletes’ families (updated)

The athlete showcased a helmet featuring 24 portraits, yet emphasized that far more athletes [650 persons] have been killed. He urged that this must be remembered

Human rights defenders urge Zelenskyy to prioritize protection for war victims
News - 05 February 2026

Human rights defenders urge Zelenskyy to prioritize protection for war victims

Human rights advocates believe that following the liquidation of the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories -- a decision approved by the President -- the head of state himself could initiate a revision of the support architecture and the creation of an effective government body

Children in one of the schools in occupied Sevastopol are being militarized by Russian militant Pavel Klyasyuk
News - 03 February 2026

Children in one of the schools in occupied Sevastopol are being militarized by Russian militant Pavel Klyasyuk

1.6 million Ukrainian children might have remained under Russian occupation. Their militarization intensified with the start of the full-scale war, although it has been ongoing in Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2014

Polish Prosecutor’s Office supports Ukraine’s request for the extradition of Russian archaeologist Butyagin
News - 13 January 2026

Polish Prosecutor’s Office supports Ukraine’s request for the extradition of Russian archaeologist Butyagin

Alexander Butyagin, a Russian scientist and head of the ancient archaeology department at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. He has illegally crossed the state border of Ukraine and led an archaeological expedition in temporarily occupied Kerch

Crimean political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziev has begun losing consciousness due to significant deterioration of his health condition
News - 08 January 2026

Crimean political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziev has begun losing consciousness due to significant deterioration of his health condition

The Crimean Tatar is being held in solitary confinement, so if he becomes unwell, there is no one to help him

Russian serviceman who threatened the mother of a Ukrainian soldier in occupation with gang rape received a sentence in absentia
News - 06 January 2026

Russian serviceman who threatened the mother of a Ukrainian soldier in occupation with gang rape received a sentence in absentia

The individual is 35-year-old Dmitrii Shugankov, who at that time was on Ukrainian soil as the head of intelligence for the 2nd self-propelled howitzer artillery battalion of the 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Cossack Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, holding the rank of "Senior Lieutenant."

Human rights activists have identified 25 individuals involved in the persecution of citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov
News - 04 January 2026

Human rights activists have identified 25 individuals involved in the persecution of citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov

Those implicated in Bekirov’s persecution include Russian judges, prosecutors, and Federal Security Service (FSB) officers. A journalist and activist with the "Crimean Solidarity" movement, Bekirov has faced harassment since 2017. Following his arrest in 2019, he was held in Russian pretrial detention centers and penal colonies under inhumane conditions, subjected to forced transfers and psychiatric evaluations, and denied the full right to a legal defense

Government agencies have appointed officials responsible for the temporarily occupied territories: human rights advocate explains what this will change
Articles - 27 December 2025

Government agencies have appointed officials responsible for the temporarily occupied territories: human rights advocate explains what this will change

The ZMINA editorial team sent a request to the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers to find out which ministries had been designated as responsible for policy on the temporarily occupied and frontline territories. In response to the request, the Secretariat provided a list of such representatives in 21 executive bodies, including ministries, the State Emergency Service, the Pension Fund, the State Property Fund, and other relevant institutions

UN condemns Russian aggression, human rights violations on occupied territories and demands troop withdrawal from Ukraine
News - 19 December 2025

UN condemns Russian aggression, human rights violations on occupied territories and demands troop withdrawal from Ukraine

The resolution relies on the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on violations by Russia, which confirm facts of enforced disappearances and torture both in the occupied territories and in Russia itself