Over twelve years of Russia’s temporary occupation of the peninsula, violence against everything Ukrainian has become routine. Repression, persecution, fabricated criminal cases, and killings are standard instruments of control used by the Russian Federation. Yet even under these conditions, Crimea has not been broken: it remains Ukrainian, and its residents—risking their freedom and lives—continue to resist.

Within the framework of the #ResistanceMovement initiative, together with the National Resistance Centre, we document and share the stories of people who, even under occupation, have preserved their identity and refused to renounce Ukraine. At the same time, we collect evidence of crimes committed by the occupying administration and acts of violence against the civilian population. These testimonies demonstrate a fundamental truth: fear cannot extinguish the desire for freedom, and resistance persists even under the darkest conditions.

• A Russian court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 50-year-old Vasyl Drosov, a resident of temporarily occupied Kerch, to imprisonment on fabricated charges of allegedly “justifying terrorist activity” for a comment posted on Telegram.
• An occupation “court” in Sevastopol sentenced 53-year-old Crimean resident Yevhen Hudenkov to 17 years in a maximum-security penal colony on fabricated charges of alleged “treason” and “illegal handling of explosives,” based on accusations that he purportedly transmitted information about the positions of occupation forces to the Defence Forces of Ukraine. In addition to the 17-year prison sentence, the “court” imposed one year of restricted liberty, a fine of 400,000 rubles, and ordered the confiscation of his car, mobile phone, and laptop.
• Occupying authorities detained a 19-year-old resident of Sevastopol, accusing him of allegedly “preparing acts of sabotage” on instructions from Ukrainian special services.
• The occupation “Supreme Court of Crimea” sentenced a 44-year-old resident of the peninsula to 18 years in a maximum-security penal colony under a fabricated case of alleged “treason”—for his opposition to Russia’s war and accusations of transmitting information to Ukrainian intelligence.
• A resident of the Dzhankoi district, Lera Dzhemilova, was sentenced to 15 years in a penal colony on fabricated charges of alleged “treason,” based on accusations of transmitting information to Ukrainian intelligence.

Despite repression, risk, and constant threat, a resilient network of resistance is forming in the temporarily occupied territory. These are no longer isolated actions by individuals but interconnected initiatives that operate systematically, cautiously, and deliberately. One such example is the “Yellow Ribbon” movement, which through symbols, stickers, and leaflets restores Ukrainian identity to public spaces and reminds the world of Crimea’s true belonging.

For example, on 31 January, participants of the “Yellow Ribbon” movement in Simferopol, Sevastopol, and Alushta took photographs with patriotic messages, demonstrating resistance to the Russian occupation.

Another initiative active in Crimea is the “Zla Mavka” project, which documents—through personal stories—the experiences, fears, and strengths of Crimean women living under occupation.

Alongside the practice of political imprisonment, the occupation administration widely resorts to unlawful administrative pressure. As of 26 January 2026, at least 1,672 cases of persecution have been recorded in Crimea under Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences. In the majority of cases—1,542—decisions imposing fines have already been issued or the cases have been merged with other proceedings, while 17 cases remain pending without consideration.