temporarily occupied Crimea
Crimean Tatar women facing aggression in occupied Crimea, rights advocate says
At least two attacks on Crimean Tatar women in temporarily occupied Crimea over the summer of 2026: one was threatened with a knife, and neighbours attempted to tear off another's headscarf, Crimean Tatar human rights defender and journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva reported
Crimean political prisoner Larysa Haidai loses weight and grows weak behind bars, Crimean Human Rights Group says
A 62-year-old Crimean political prisoner, Larysa Haidai, has lost 15 kilograms and become weaker after being held completely incommunicado by Russian occupying forces for more than two years
Russian appeal court upheld sentence against 66-year-old Melitopol resident Iryna Sukhovii
In May 2025, FSB officers detained pensioner Iryna Sukhovii. The illegitimate "Zaporizhzhia Regional Court" subsequently sentenced her to 12 years and six months in a general-regime penal colony for "high treason". The Russian occupying authorities accused her of providing financial support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2026, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Moscow upheld the sentence and dismissed Sukhovii’s appeal. Aleksandr Pushkin, a judge at the court, issued the ruling
A society speaking out: Who is protesting against Zelenskyy’s government appointments and dismissals in Ukraine – and why
The Human Rights Centre ZMINA has been following the peaceful protests since they began in July. Read ZMINA report to learn how the protests started and developed, and what motivates Ukrainians to gather in city squares every evening
Russian Justice Ministry targets more activists of Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement
On 24 June 2026, the Russian Justice Ministry expanded the list of people it considers members of the Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement, which had previously been added to Russia’s register of foreign agents. The list now contains 137 names
UNESCO adds Tauric Chersonese in temporarily occupied Crimea to “in danger” heritage list
The ruins of Chersonesus date back over two millennia. Chersonesus, which is under the control of the occupying state, the Russian Federation, has suffered large-scale unauthorised excavations, major construction projects and the removal of artefacts. These actions, carried out by the occupying authorities, have caused irreversible damage to the integrity and authenticity of the archaeological site
Crimean Solidarity grass-roots initiative ceases operations
The movement stressed that many of its members who assisted victims of political repression had themselves faced fines, administrative detention and criminal prosecution. These activities were among the reasons why Crimean Solidarity was added to the register
Dzhankoi district resident sentenced to four years in penal colony over comments about illegal construction of Kerch Bridge by Russian occupiers
Russian occupying investigators allege that Mykola Semiletov posted comments on Telegram calling for the destruction of the Kerch Bridge and the killing of Russians and political figures
FSB detained local resident in occupied Crimea over pro-Ukrainian comments
A criminal case was opened against the man under Article 280(2) ("Public calls for extremist activities") of the Russian Criminal Code. Occupation law enforcement officers also said they were considering opening a case under Article 205.2(2) ("Public calls to the performance of terrorist acts") of the Russian Criminal Code.
Illegitimate “court” in temporarily occupied Crimea punishes woman for calling for protests over power and water outages
On social media, local residents complained about the lack of electricity and water, saying they were unable to live or work normally. They wrote that businesses had come to a standstill, workers were not being paid, and families were forced to care for children and carry water up to flats in multi-storey buildings without electricity
Russia’s indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children may amount to a crime against humanity – OSCE
The OSCE mission has documented that Russia systematically violates the rights of Ukrainian children, ranging from banning the Ukrainian language in schools to the forced conscription of boys into military service upon reaching the age of 18. The mission's legal analysis classifies the indoctrination and militarization of children as a crime against humanity, and specific episodes, including deportation and torture, as war crimes.
The first issue of the Crimean Tatar newspaper Qırım was published 37 years ago
According to available estimates, between 2021 and 2024 alone, the occupation authorities imposed at least 658,000 Russian roubles in fines on the newspaper, its Editor-in-Chief and its founder
US Human Rights Commission calls for release of Crimean Tatar journalist Rustem Sheikhaliyev on his 47th birthday
Russian security forces detained Sheikhaliyev during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes in March 2019. At the time, more than two dozen people were arrested simultaneously in occupied Simferopol and surrounding areas
Blind Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov discharged from hospital and being transferred to prison in Minusinsk
While in the hospital, he underwent three medical examinations. The Kremlin prisoner was discharged on 10 June, 2026. According to Sizikov, he was due to be transferred on either 13 or 18 June to the facility where he is serving his unlawful sentence
FSB detained man in Sevastopol over online comments about Balaklava Thermal Power Plant
The man’s identity and his response to the allegations are unknown. There has been no independent confirmation of the information released by the Russian security services
Russian authorities sentenced a Sevastopol resident to five and a half years in prison over comments about the Kerch Bridge, which was illegally constructed by Russian occupiers
In addition, Oleksandr Maliarenko was charged with seven counts of "calling for violence against Russian citizens". In total, he faced 15 charges under articles covering "justification of terrorism" and "extremist activity". The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed
Quran confiscated from citizen journalist Seiran Saliiev in Russian penal colony
Alongside the confiscation of the Quran, Saliiev has been repeatedly placed in a punishment cell. According to his family, since 2024, he has effectively been held in continuous solitary confinement, where he is punished even for minor formal violations, including an unbuttoned uniform or an allegedly improperly made bed
Human rights defenders document 26 cases of pressure against journalists and activists in Crimea over the past year – ZMINA
Occupation authorities continue to restrict journalists' access to trials in politically motivated cases under the pretext of "counterterrorism security". Since the start of the full-scale war, independent and citizen journalists have effectively been barred from entering "court" buildings in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Columns
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ICC must remain free from political pressure to bring justice to victims of world’s gravest crimes
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The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
