temporarily occupied Crimea
Political decision and a dangerous precedent: Experts comment on Poland’s release of architect Butyagin, who was to be extradited to Ukraine
During the review of the request, Poland provided a proper assessment of the Ukrainian side's materials and recognized them as sufficient to resolve the issue of extraditing the individual to Ukraine. The subsequent decision regarding Butyagin was made in the context of international agreements related to the exchange of detainees
Russia abducts at least 17 Crimean residents, holds them incommunicado for months – Irade human rights initiative
Monitoring conducted by the Irade between February 2025 and May 2025
At UN, Ukraine highlighted the systemic persecution of journalists in Russian-occupied territories
Ukraine called on the international community to demand the release of all illegally detained journalists and to strengthen the response to Russian information campaigns
Ukrainian Maryna Riff has disappeared in occupied Crimea – human rights advocates speak of possible persecution
Ryff did not obtain Russian documents during the occupation
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
The Crimean Tatar is being held in solitary confinement, so if he becomes unwell, there is no one to help him
Columns
The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
The lesson of Crimea: Rewarding aggression only invites more war
Not just Ukraine — Russia is preparing Ukrainian children for future wars elsewhere
Why “good Russians” in exile repeat Russian and Soviet colonial narratives
