Main news of the week:

▶ On January 11, after nine years of unlawful imprisonment, Crimean Tatar activists Rustem Abiltarov, Zevri Abseitov, and Remzi Memetov were released.

Invaders’ crimes:

▶ As of February 17, the occupiers have illegally imprisoned 221 individuals, including 137 Crimean Tatars. 

▶ 1203 cases were filed under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation in so-called  “courts” in occupied Crimea. In 1058 cases, administrative fines or combined rulings were issued. Proceedings continue in 46 cases.

▶ The occupation administrations have transferred Crimean political prisoner Ruslan Abdurakhmanov from a Russian prison in Tambov region, yet his whereabouts have remained unknown for over three weeks. Abdurakhmanov was abducted following Russia’s occupation of the Kherson region in 2022 and sentenced to five years in a high-security penal colony.

▶ The occupation “court” sentenced a Sevastopol resident to 12 years in a high-security penal colony on fabricated charges of alleged “state treason”, accusing him of supposedly financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The man, along with his family, left occupied Crimea in 2023, but in 2024, he returned to Sevastopol to sell his property, after which he was detained by the occupiers.

▶ The occupation “court” sentenced Anna Yeltsova, a Kherson University student abducted after Russia’s occupation, to 10 years in a high-security penal colony for allegedly transmitting information about the movement of occupying forces to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. She was held in complete isolation for two years in Simferopol Detention Center No. 2, without contact with her family or access to a lawyer. It was only in October 2024 that Russia’s FSB officially announced her “detention,” concealing the fact of her abduction and unlawful imprisonment.

▶ The occupation “court” in Crimea denied the appeal of a Crimean resident, who had been unlawfully sentenced to 13 years and 2 months in a high-security penal colony, along with 1 year and 8 months of restricted freedom and a 350,000-ruble fine, on fabricated charges of alleged “state treason” and collaboration with Ukrainian intelligence services.

▶ The health condition of Server Mustafaiev, a Crimean Tatar human rights defender and former coordinator of Crimean Solidarity, continues to deteriorate in Correctional Colony No. 1 in Tambov, Russia, where he is serving an unlawful 14-year sentence in a high-security penal colony. He has been experiencing worsening lower back pain, as well as scaling on his elbows and face, which could be an early stage of psoriasis. However, the occupying administrations refuse to provide him with proper medical care.

Forcible conscription:

▶ At least 1,783 Russian soldiers from units based in occupied Crimea have been killed, 1,198 of whom were likely Ukrainian citizens. The actual number of casualties is believed to be higher as Russia conceals actual losses.

▶ At least 116 servicemen from occupied Crimea, most likely Ukrainian citizens, have been confirmed as captured.

Militarization of the Crimean Peninsula:

▶ Agents of the ATESH movement are monitoring the transportation of fuel for occupation forces from Russia’s Novorossiisk to Crimea, tracking volumes and delivery schedules. Recently, they have observed a decrease in the frequency of these shipments due to effective strikes by Ukraine’s Armed Forces on oil refineries and fuel depots. At the same time, agents report that the occupying forces are attempting to reinforce Balaklava Bay by installing new boom barriers and mining the entrances in an attempt to defend against uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and underwater drones.

Propaganda of the occupation administrations and incitement to hostility:

▶ The administration of the Crimean branch of the Russian State University of Justice is forcing students to participate in a so-called “patriotic campaign”—writing Valentine’s cards for Russian occupation troops. Propaganda efforts use this initiative to create the illusion of support for the occupying army and to promote the “normalization” of war among young people, portraying the occupiers as “defenders” and “heroes.”

▶ The occupying administrations have classified data on the number of birds that died after being rescued from fuel oil contamination following the ecological disaster caused by the collision of two Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait on December 15.

▶ In Simferopol, the occupiers involve school children in the production of camouflage nets for occupation forces. Additionally, children are being mobilized to collect humanitarian aid and produce food for Russian troops.

Civil Resistance:

▶ Occupation security forces have detained 39-year-old Ilia Tsapov, a resident of Yana Kapu, for social media posts in which he expressed support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, called for resistance to the occupation, and shared pro-Ukrainian slogans. Several administrative charges have been filed against him, and the case has been referred to the occupation “court.”

▶ 50-year-old Mykhailo Soloviov, a resident of Kerch, criticized the actions of Russian occupation forces on social media. The occupying administrations detained him, filed an administrative charge, and referred his case to the occupation “court.”

▶ The occupation administrations detained and fined a 43-year-old resident of Sevastopol 40,000 rubles for criticizing the occupiers on social media.

▶ The occupiers detained 48-year-old Zhanna Dereka for displaying Ukrainian symbols on her social media page. An administrative charge was filed against her, and the case was referred to the occupation “court.”

▶ The occupation “court” has fined a 50-year-old resident of Kyianly, Feodosiia district, 50,000 rubles for posting pro-Ukrainian content on social media.

▶ Activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement continue to resist, despite ongoing pressure and persecution from the occupation administration. They hang blue and yellow ribbons, leave resistance messages, distribute leaflets, and display symbols that reinforce the Ukrainian identity of the peninsula. Every action they take sends a message to Crimeans: the fight continues, and those who oppose the occupation are not alone.

▶ Members of the Crimean Combat Seagulls movement confront the occupiers daily, risking their freedom and lives. They expose collaborators, track the activities of Russian forces, and document the crimes of the occupation. Their work includes gathering intelligence on troop locations and equipment movements, uncovering financial schemes, and identifying individuals involved in aggression against Ukraine. They also monitor the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes, spread the truth that dismantles Russian propaganda, and support those who continue the resistance.

▶ Activists of the Zla Mavka movement continue their fight on the peninsula, engaging in informational and symbolic resistance against the occupiers. They paint patriotic graffiti, distribute leaflets and stickers, and remind Crimeans of the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit, calling for unity and resistance. Their actions undermine Russian propaganda myths, shattering the illusion of its absolute control. At the same time, they document repressions against Crimeans, expose the crimes of the occupiers, and draw global attention to the fight for Crimea’s liberation

The Mission continues to receive inquiries from Ukrainian citizens who want to leave Crimea because they cannot tolerate the occupation and total propaganda. We remind you of our instructions on how to leave temporarily occupied Crimea: https://cutt.ly/FwtiajlS

We thank the aware Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea for their prompt reports on the situation on the Crimean Peninsula, in particular on the socio-economic situation, the positions of Russian troops, the resistance movements to the occupation, etc. For more information, please send an e-mail to the press service of the Mission:  [email protected].

Glory to Ukraine!