Main news of the week:
▶ On 27 March, the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine launched strikes on Russian military facilities in temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result, the Fiodor Uryupin tugboat, a Kamaz truck, and several high-value Russian radar systems were destroyed, including the 48Ya6-K1 Podlyot, the RM-10M1E command post radar, 9S32 Imbir, and command posts for ST-68 and 39N6 Kasta-2E2 radar systems.
▶ On 31 March, in the village of Nyzhnohirske, Bilohirsk district, activists set fire to the grave of Russian “war correspondent” Oleksandr Fedorchak of the propaganda outlet Krym-24, recently killed in a HIMARS strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with the graves of three other soldiers of the occupiers.
Invaders’ crimes:
▶ As of March 31, the occupiers have illegally imprisoned 224 individuals, including 137 Crimean Tatars.
▶ As of 21 March 2025, 1,279 cases were filed under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation in so-called “courts” in occupied Crimea. In 1,156 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.
▶ The occupying administrations have transferred Crimean political prisoner Servet Haziiev, unlawfully sentenced to 13 years in a high-security penal colony, to a correctional facility in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskyi.
▶ An occupation “court” sentenced 41-year-old Sevastopol resident Serhii Sauliak to 18 years in prison on fabricated charges of alleged espionage and preparation of a terrorist act.
▶ A Russian court has extended the detention of the defendants in the so-called “sixth Bakhchysarai group of Crimean Muslims” — Aziz Azizov, Memet Liumanov, Rustem Osmanov, and Mustafa Abduramanov — who will remain in pre-trial detention at least until 7 July.
▶ A Russian court in Moscow has rejected the cassation appeal of journalist Serhii Tsyhipa from Nova Kakhovka. He had previously been illegally sentenced by an occupation “court” in Crimea to 13 years in a high-security penal colony on fabricated espionage charges.
▶ The occupying administrations sentenced Renat Seitaptieiev, a resident of Simferopol district, to 15 days of administrative arrest for social media comments in which he criticized the occupiers and their actions.
Militarization of the Crimean Peninsula:
▶ The ATESH movement has reported the decline of the shipbuilding industry in occupied Crimea following Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes. According to their information, shipyards in Sevastopol that previously served the Russian Black Sea Fleet are losing contracts and ceasing operations. Some facilities have been repurposed into warehouses or repair bases for damaged military equipment.
▶ An increased movement of military equipment belonging to Russian occupiers has been observed on roads throughout temporarily occupied Crimea. In particular, the transport of two S-300/S-400 air defence system launchers and a 96L6E all-altitude radar station has been recorded in the direction of Saky. A 96L6E radar was destroyed near Saky in early March, indicating the current transport may involve replacement equipment. Across various sections of Crimean highways, convoys of military trucks, both loaded with ammunition and personnel as well as empty, have been seen. The size of the convoys ranges from 3 to 10 vehicles.
▶ In Sevastopol, the deployment of two Project 22460 Okhotnik patrol ships — operated by the Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Service of the Russian Federation — has been recorded. One vessel is moored in the Inkerman Bay, and the other is stationed at Pier No. 56, located at the bay’s entrance. Both are equipped with anti-aircraft weaponry, enabling them to defend key infrastructure, particularly the nearby fuel depot of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Additionally, a Pantsir-S1 air defence missile-gun system has been deployed on Zelena Hill above the bay to bolster air defense in the area.
Propaganda of the occupation administrations and incitement to hostility:
▶ In Simferopol, the occupation administration has opened a military-patriotic club called “Gryphon,” where children aged 7 to 17 are trained in hand-to-hand combat, tactical self-defense, and survival skills in extreme conditions. The training program is based on the methods used by Russian special forces.
▶ The occupation regime continues the militarization of education. In the village of Petrivka, Kurman district, the 7th Open Air Rifle Shooting Competition for the Lyudmyla Mykhailivna Pavlychenko Cup was held among girls from Russian militaristic organizations, including Yunarmiia.
▶ In the settlement of Nyzhnohirskyi, Bilohirsk district, the occupiers opened the so-called “first Yunarmiia house” on the premises of local school No. 2.
▶ On March 27, the so-called “International Scientific and Diplomatic Congress” began at the Livadia Palace. It was organized by the Russian occupation administration in another attempt to legitimize the illegal occupation of Crimea and promote the political interests of the Russian Federation.
▶ In the Simferopol district of Crimea, Russian archaeologists are conducting illegal excavations of ancient Scythian burial sites. The work is taking place at a large necropolis of nomadic tribes, which contains over 40 burial mounds. Some of them have already been excavated, despite the fact that these archaeological sites belong to Ukraine.
Forcible conscription:
▶ At least 1873 Russian soldiers from units based in occupied Crimea have been killed, 1266 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.
Civil Resistance:
▶ Security forces of the occupation administration detained a resident of Sevastopol, accusing him of allegedly preparing a series of explosions in the city on instructions from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The case has been submitted to the occupation “court.”
▶ In Simferopol, the FSB of the Russian Federation detained an 18-year-old local resident on fabricated charges of allegedly preparing a terrorist attack at a mosque and cooperating with Ukrainian intelligence services.
▶ In Yevpatoriia, the occupiers conducted unlawful searches and detained four local residents—Tetiana Maliar, her brother Valentyn Maliar, her son Anatolii Rossikhin, and her daughter Olha Behei—on fabricated charges of alleged “state treason.”
▶ In the village of Sofiivka, Simferopol district, Russian security forces searched the home of local resident Susanna Ismailova and took her to an unknown location due to her pro-Ukrainian stance. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
▶ Vladyslav Doroshenko, a resident of Simferopol, expressed negative opinions on social media about the actions of the occupation forces. The occupiers detained him, drew up an administrative report, and referred his case to a “court.”
▶ Activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement carried out new resistance actions in occupied Crimea. In Simferopol, patriotic stickers appeared on Skvozna, Rodnykova, and Kruta Streets. In Yalta, Ukrainian symbols were spotted on the promenade, and in Sudak—at public transport stops.
▶ Activists of the underground movement Zla Mavka continue their resistance in occupied Crimea by distributing pro-Ukrainian stickers and leaflets. This week, they posted over 100 stickers in Simferopol with slogans such as “Crimea is Ukraine” and “Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!” They also share quotes from works by Taras Shevchenko and Lina Kostenko. Their actions aim to counter Russian propaganda and draw attention to the occupation regime’s repressions.
▶ Members of the Crimean Combat Seagulls movement are spreading Ukrainian symbols, leaflets, and stickers, as well as engaging in information resistance to highlight human rights violations on the peninsula. These activists demonstrate that even under occupation, Crimeans continue to resist and fight for the return of Crimea to Ukraine.
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!