Main news of the week:
▶ Russian occupiers intend to transfer Crimean Tatar political prisoner Rustem Huhuryk, who suffers from serious health issues, to a pre-trial detention center instead of providing him with necessary hospitalization. Earlier, Huhuryk had planned to appeal the inaction of the penal colony administration in ensuring medical care.
Invaders’ crimes:
▶ As of April 21, the occupiers have illegally imprisoned 225 individuals, including 134 Crimean Tatars.
▶ As of 21 April 2025, 1279 cases were filed under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation in so-called “courts” in occupied Crimea. In 1156 cases, decisions were made to impose fines or to combine the cases with others, resulting in consolidated rulings. In 22 cases, proceedings are still ongoing. Of all decisions issued, 561 (49%) concerned women, while 593 (51%) involved men.
▶ In occupied Kerch, Russian forces detained Moldovan citizen Yevhen Kurdohly for allegedly passing information to the Armed Forces of Ukraine about Russian military equipment and infrastructure in Crimea. He has been unlawfully charged with terrorism and illegal possession of explosives.
▶ The occupation “court” rejected a lawsuit filed by Crimean Tatar political prisoner Server Zekiriaiev, sentenced to 13 years, regarding inhumane conditions of detention in a punishment cell and a high-security unit. His lawyer states the conditions constitute torture and plans to appeal the ruling.
▶ Ismail Shemshedinov, abducted by occupying forces on 26 January 2024 in the temporarily occupied village of Isliam-Terek, is currently being held unlawfully in Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2 in Simferopol. He was detained without explanation or documentation of investigative actions, and his whereabouts remained unknown for a prolonged period.
Forcible conscription:
▶ At least 1906 Russian soldiers from units based in occupied Crimea have been killed, 1275 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:
▶ Activists of the ATESH resistance movement report that Russian National Guard forces are stepping up patrols in occupied Simferopol due to fear of local partisans. Additionally, movement agents have observed that the families of senior officers of the Russian Black Sea Fleet have left Sevastopol amid growing panic.
Propaganda of the occupation administrations and incitement to hostility:
▶ In temporarily occupied Crimea, the occupation administration is “testing” Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar children for loyalty. Under the guise of surveys, they are imposing Russian identity and identifying “unreliable” families with a pro-Ukrainian stance.
▶ In Simferopol, the so-called “reconstruction” of the Children’s Park is being used to fully isolate the area, including the zoo and playgrounds. In reality, fortifications and a VIP zone for Russian military personnel are being installed.
▶ At the Artek children’s camp, so-called “lessons of courage” are being held to mark the 81st anniversary of the camp’s liberation from World War II occupation forces. Russian propagandists are telling children stories of “combat routine” and the “fight against the enemy.”
Civil Resistance:
▶ A 23-year-old resident of occupied Crimea was detained by Russian occupation forces for expressing support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and criticizing Russian occupiers and the so-called “president of the Russian Federation” on social media. The occupation administration unlawfully detained the woman and filed administrative reports against her under Articles 20.3.3 “discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation” and 20.1 “petty hooliganism.”
▶ Activists of the Yellow Ribbon resistance movement once again distributed ribbons and stickers across temporarily occupied Crimea — including near public transport stops in Yalta, on mailboxes in Sevastopol, on the streets of Simferopol, and in other crowded areas. Activists also report that in Simferopol, the occupation administration is conducting so-called “anti-terrorist drills” in schools, which include searches of students’ personal belongings.
▶ Activists from the Crimean Combat Seagulls continue exposing personal data of collaborators and Russian war criminals in occupied Crimea. They also issued an Easter greeting and reminded the public that resistance in occupied Crimea is ongoing.
▶ The Zla Mavka resistance movement continues publishing their diaries documenting the crimes of the occupiers. In occupied Simferopol, members of the movement carried out an act of resistance by distributing around one hundred leaflets with the message: “Fight — and you will win! The power is in you!”
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!