Every day, our compatriots in temporarily occupied Crimea continue to tirelessly resist the Russian occupiers, demonstrating support for Ukraine and trust in the inevitable de-occupation of the peninsula.

In our regular column # resistance_movement, together with the National Resistance Center, we continue to inform you about public sentiment among Crimean residents and about the people who destroy Russian propaganda narratives.

Russia persecutes Crimean residents because of their pro-Ukrainian stance and manifestations of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity. In 2022, Russia adopted amendments to the criminal and administrative codes, which provide for liability for the so-called “discrediting of the armed forces of the Russian Federation” to suppress the resistance and unwillingness of people to accept the occupation. The following recent cases are illustrative:

• Ruslan Dzhapparov, a resident of Azovske village in the Dzhankoi district, expressed support for the de-occupation of Crimea by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a conversation in a “chat roulette” platform. He also stated his dislike for Russians due to historical memory. The occupiers detained him, forced him to apologize on video, and submitted materials to the occupation “court.”
• Oleksii Novikov, a resident of Simferopol, voiced his support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on social media. He was detained by the occupiers, forced to apologize on video, and had a protocol drawn up against him, which was forwarded to the occupation “court.”
• A resident of Sevastopol criticized the actions of the Russian occupation forces in Ukraine during a conversation with colleagues. He was detained, a protocol was drawn up, and the case was submitted to the occupation “court.”
• A resident of Yalta was accused of allegedly providing Ukrainian intelligence with information about the location and movement of Russian military equipment in Crimea. He was detained, and his case is currently being considered by the occupation “court.”
• Another resident of Sevastopol was accused of setting fire to a collection point for so-called “Russian humanitarian aid” and allegedly attempting to ignite a fuel storage facility in Sevastopol. He was detained, and the Russian Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don unlawfully sentenced him to 10 years in a high-security prison.
• The occupation “court” in Simferopol illegally fined Bekir Mamutov, the editor of the Crimean Tatar newspaper Qırım, 4,000 rubles. The fine was imposed because one of the newspaper’s publications mentioned the media outlets Voice of America and Radio Liberty without labeling them as “foreign agents.” This is the third unlawful case against Mamutov this year.

Every day, organized resistance movements, which gained strength after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, demonstrate their resistance to the occupiers:

• Activists of the resistance movement ATESH continue to gather intelligence on the occupiers’ military facilities. Recently, they conducted detailed reconnaissance of fortifications and defenses near the city of Yany Kapu and identified a radar system base in the village of Uyutne in the Yevpatoriia district. The activists also reported that two workers from the so-called “Crimean Railway” were detained and beaten by occupiers in Simferopol, accused of collaborating with the Security and Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• The Yellow Ribbon movement continues its resistance against the occupiers in Crimea by destroying propaganda materials and spreading patriotic symbols in occupied cities, including Yalta, Yevpatoriia, Simferopol, and Sevastopol.
• The Zla Mavka resistance movement maintains its regular activities, including publishing weekly reports exposing the crimes of the occupiers and distributing patriotic symbols. In Simferopol, activists once again prepared leaflets and treats for children to celebrate St. Nicholas Day (according to the Julian calendar).
• The Crimean Combat Seagulls movement continues to uncover the personal details of collaborators and Russian war criminals operating in occupied Crimea.

We should not forget about political prisoners who, even in inhumane conditions of detention, demonstrate steadfastness and resistance to the occupation regime. As of November 28, the Russian occupation administration has unlawfully detained 218 individuals, including 132 representatives of the Crimean Tatar people.

• Vadym Bektemirov, unlawfully sentenced by the occupiers to 11 years in prison, suffers from persistent hypertensive crises while in a Russian penal colony. Additionally, his eyesight has deteriorated due to the harsh detention conditions.
• Oleksii Kyselov, a retired officer of the Ukrainian Navy who was unlawfully sentenced by the occupiers to 8.5 years, has been transferred to a maximum-security penal colony in Murmansk, Russia, located 3,800 kilometers away from his place of residence.
• Ernes Ametov, a civilian journalist unlawfully sentenced by the occupiers to 11 years, has lost 10 kilograms while in Russian detention. The Crimean resident requires vitamins to maintain his health, but the colony administration has prohibited the delivery of both vitamins and necessary medications to him.

The increase in resistance is also evidenced by new unlawful administrative cases in the occupation courts of Crimea under the article on so-called “discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” As of December 17, 2024, 1,126 cases filed under Article 20.3.3 have been recorded in occupation courts in Crimea and other occupation administrations. In 993 cases, rulings were issued imposing administrative penalties in the form of fines or combining them with other cases, resulting in cumulative unlawful decisions. In 36 cases, the review of materials is ongoing. By gender, 442 (45%) rulings were issued against women, and 550 (55%) against men. The total amount of fines imposed has already reached at least 26.4 million Russian rubles.

We thank everyone for their courage and clear public stance. Crimea is Ukraine, and we are fighting together to return the Crimean Peninsula to Ukrainian control as soon as possible and to bring a sense of security to our citizens from the temporarily occupied territories.

Glory to Ukraine!