Main news of the week:
▶ The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation rejected the cassation appeal against the illegal sentence of Crimean residents Asan and Aziz Akhtemov, illegally sentenced to 13 and 15 years in prison, respectively.
▶ In Simferopol, the editor-in-chief of the Crimean Tatar children’s magazine Armanchyk, Ediie Muslimova, was abducted by representatives of the occupation administration and held for 36 hours under FSB interrogation.
Invaders’ crimes:
▶ As of November 25, the occupiers have illegally imprisoned 218 individuals, including 132 Crimean Tatars. Of these, 43 are under arrest (28 Crimean Tatars), 151 are imprisoned (97 Crimean Tatars), and 26 are held without status (6 Crimean Tatars).
▶ 1,047 cases were filed under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation in so-called “courts” in occupied Crimea. In 928 cases, administrative fines or combined rulings were issued. Proceedings continue in 31 cases.
▶ Seiran Saliiev, a Crimean Tatar journalist illegally sentenced to 16 years in a strict-regime colony, has been held in harsh conditions at Penal Colony-4 in the Tula region since July 2024, over 1,500 km from Crimea.
▶ Appaz Kurtamet, a Crimean Tatar illegally sentenced to 7 years in a strict-regime colony, has been out of contact for two weeks following his latest transfer between Russian penitentiary facilities.
▶ Members of the so-called “Sixth Bakhchysarai Group of Crimean Muslims”—Aziz Azizov, Rustem Osmanov, Memet Lumanov, and Mustafa Abduramanov—were transferred to Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don for hearings in a Russian court.
▶ Rustem Huhuryk, illegally sentenced to 8.5 years in a strict-regime colony, is in critical condition in a Russian colony in Buryatia. He suffers from shortness of breath, heartburn, and toothache; he has completely lost hearing in one ear. Poor nutrition causes severe stomach pain after every meal, and he is forced to refuse unexplained medications issued by the colony administration due to health risks.
▶ An occupational “court” has detained two Ukrainians for two months who arrived in Crimea in the summer of 2024 using an inflatable boat.
▶ Occupational administration arrested a 38-year-old resident of Sevastopol and a 47-year-old resident of Yalta under fabricated charges of allegedly “preparing to assassinate an officer of the occupation forces.”
Forcible conscription:
▶ At least 1,408 Russian soldiers from units based in occupied Crimea have been killed, 914 of whom were likely Ukrainian citizens. The actual number of casualties is believed to be higher as Russia conceals actual losses.
▶ At least 56 servicemen from occupied Crimea, most likely Ukrainian citizens, have been confirmed as captured.
Militarization of the Crimean Peninsula:
▶ Agents of the ATESH movement reported increased activity by occupiers in Yevpatoriia as they continue preparing defenses against a potential Ukrainian landing. Half of the families of Russian National Guard officers have left the peninsula out of fear of hostilities. Activists also recorded the movement of a “Pantsir-S1” complex in Sevastopol, along with ammunition transported in civilian trucks, and the redeployment of air defense systems from Yevpatoriia to Kerch to bolster the defense of the so-called “Crimean Bridge.”
▶ Russian occupation forces continue to bolster the security of the so-called “Kerch Bridge.” Over the past month, the line of metal barriers—known as Czech hedgehogs—has doubled, now stretching 1.5 kilometers. Metal fences have been installed along the shores of Tuzla Island on the other side of the arches. Additionally, all four piers near the eastern viaduct span have been interconnected.
Propaganda of the occupation administrations and incitement to hostility:
▶ Due to the negligence of the occupation administration in Crimea, the energy crisis is worsening. Massive power outages have become a regular occurrence for residents of Sevastopol, Kerch, Feodosiia, Yevpatoriia, and numerous settlements in the Bakhchysarai, Pervomaiskyi, Leninskyi, Kurchan, and Dzhankoi districts. In total, over 10,000 peninsula residents face electricity issues. Despite this, the occupation administration continues to make baseless claims of controlling the situation while ignoring the infrastructure problems and needs of the local population.
▶ The occupation administration in Crimea seized the property of relatives of Oleksandr Shcheptsov, commander of the 385th Separate Brigade of Naval Unmanned Systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Civil Resistance:
▶ Occupation security forces arrested a 38-year-old resident of Sevastopol and a 47-year-old resident of Yalta under fabricated charges of allegedly “plotting to assassinate an officer of the occupation forces.”
▶ A 61-year-old resident of Feodosiia, Iryna Vladymyrova, was detained by occupation forces after supporting Ukraine’s Defense Forces and condemning the actions of the occupying troops on social media. A protocol was drawn up, and her case was referred to court.
▶ Arsen Osmanov, a resident of Simferopol, was detained for supporting Ukraine on social media by posting images of yellow and blue hearts, flags, and the Ukrainian coat of arms. A protocol was drawn up, and his case was sent to court.
▶ Activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement continue to resist Russian occupation in Crimea, showing courage and dedication to Ukraine. This week, they raised the Ukrainian flag at the highest point of the Baidar Plateau—Mount Ilyas-Kaya, near Sevastopol—and called on Ukrainians in occupied territories to engage in active resistance through the distribution of symbols, leaflets, and peaceful acts of defiance. Despite the risk of persecution, activists persist in their underground activities across the peninsula, destroying propaganda materials and reminding the world that Crimea is Ukraine. Activists also reported that Wagner Group training materials, which include instructions on killing Ukrainians, are being used in schools on the occupied peninsula.
▶ Activists of the Crimean Combat Seagulls movement continue to expose collaborators and Russian war criminals in occupied Crimea, sharing detailed information about their residences, contacts, travel routes, financial transactions, and connections with the occupation administration and Russian security structures. Working in strict secrecy to avoid reprisals, activists organize informant networks and maintain the spirit of resistance among Crimean residents, reminding them that even under occupation, the fight for justice and freedom continues.
▶ Activists of the Zla Mavka movement tirelessly continue their struggle on the territory of occupied Crimea, turning city streets and villages into resistance platforms. They distribute patriotic graffiti, stickers, and leaflets calling on locals to engage in nonviolent resistance and reminding them of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit. Their activities counter Russian propaganda, which aims to impose a distorted reality and the illusion of complete control by the occupiers. Despite the constant risk of repression, the activists boldly debunk the myths of the occupation administration, inspiring Crimean residents to fight for freedom and justice.
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!