Crimea continues to resist despite years of occupation. Repression, mass searches, and constant pressure have not broken the determination of its people. The Ukrainian language is still spoken on the peninsula, national consciousness is preserved within families, and traditions live on through memories and stories. Every day, Crimeans resist — quietly but firmly — choosing truth, dignity, and loyalty to their identity.

As part of the special project #resistance_movement, in collaboration with the National Resistance Center, we share the stories of those who refuse to let the enemy erase Ukraine’s presence from our land.

The occupation administration is systematically erasing everything connected to Ukraine: closing Ukrainian-language schools, disrespecting cultural heritage, and persecuting even the smallest signs of dissent. The so-called article on “discrediting the Russian army” has become a tool to suppress freedom of speech and thought.

Each act of resistance — a message on a wall, a leaflet, or any other action — is a contribution to a shared goal: the liberation of Crimea from Russian occupation.

• The occupation “court” fined the director of the Atmosfera club in the village of Pishchane, Bakhchysarai district, 300,000 rubles after a DJ at the venue played the song Hulianochka by Verka Serduchka, which includes the line “Ukraine has not yet perished.”

Today, resistance in temporarily occupied Crimea is no longer limited to isolated acts of dissent — it has grown into a coordinated movement that gained new momentum after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. A strong underground network operates across the peninsula — a community of people who, despite all risks, act in unity and refuse to surrender their will to resist.

These individuals fight in the information space, document war crimes, organize peaceful forms of resistance, and pass critical intelligence to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Their actions are not just displays of courage — they are a clear message: “Crimea has not surrendered and is not silent.”

Every step they take is proof that the fight goes on. It is the voice of the peninsula saying: “We have not bowed. We hold the line. We are part of a free Ukraine.”

• Activists of the ATESH resistance movement continue to closely monitor the actions of the occupiers in Crimea. This week in Sevastopol, they recorded the movement of mobile fire units of the occupying forces, as well as identified one of the military bases in the city center. Additionally, agents in Sevastopol uncovered a secret enemy air defense radar unit equipped with the 55Zh6U Nebo radar system.
• The Yellow Ribbon movement remains active across the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula. Activists continue to leave symbols of resistance — anti-occupation leaflets, yellow ribbons on poles, fences, and bus stops, as well as messages painted on walls and sidewalks. These symbols appear near administrative buildings, schools, markets — in places where they are highly visible. Each act is documented and shared through media, social networks, and archival platforms. This is a clear reminder to the occupiers: “You are not welcome here.”
• The Zla Mavka initiative focuses on preserving the voices of Crimeans. They collect testimonies about searches, interrogations, disappearances, ongoing pressure, and surveillance. These stories are transformed into illustrated quotes, audio essays, and short videos. The activists organize online exhibitions that portray daily life under occupation through an artistic lens — particularly from the perspective of women. Their mission is to speak the truth and resist the disinformation that seeks to erase it.
• The Crimean Combat Seagulls specialize in gathering and analyzing information about the actions of the occupying administration. They monitor military equipment movements, identify the locations of military facilities, and expose collaborators — from local officials to security forces. Activists compile databases of traitors, process documents, and obtain sensitive data. Some of this information is shared with Ukrainian intelligence, while other findings are published in public reports.

As of June 30, 2025, at least 220 individuals remain imprisoned due to politically motivated persecution orchestrated by Russia’s occupying administration in Crimea. Among them, 133 are representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, who are baselessly accused of “terrorism,” “extremism,” or “treason.” These repressions are part of a deliberate policy aimed at suppressing any form of resistance, curtailing fundamental freedoms, and displacing the Indigenous population from its historical homeland.

Those imprisoned face isolation, torture, and constant psychological pressure. Yet even under such conditions, they remain committed to their principles and national dignity. Their resilience has become a symbol of resistance — a testament to courage and the unyielding pursuit of freedom.

Recent events only underscore this unwavering resilience.

• Occupation security forces detained 34-year-old Pavlo Korotkyi, a DJ at the Atmosfera club in the village of Pishchane, Bakhchysarai district, for playing the song Hulianochka by Verka Serduchka, which contains the line “Ukraine has not yet perished.” Administrative protocols were drawn up against both Pavlo Korotkyi and the club’s director, and the case materials were handed over to the occupation “court.”
• The occupiers arrested a 23-year-old local resident on fabricated charges of alleged “involvement in the Ukrainian underground.” His case has also been sent to the “court,” and he faces up to 20 years in prison.
• In the Yevpatoriia district, a 46-year-old man was detained for posting social media comments critical of the occupying forces and supportive of Ukraine. He was forced to record a video apology, charged under administrative law, and his case was forwarded to the occupation “court.”

Despite the prolonged occupation, the resistance movement in Crimea is not fading — it is growing stronger, more organized, and more visible. This is evidenced by the increasing scale of repressions carried out by the occupation administration.  As of 17 July 2025, at least 1,472 cases have been recorded under Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences, submitted to so-called “courts” and other repressive bodies.

In 1340 of these cases, fines have already been issued or consolidated rulings made, while 55 cases are still under consideration. Gender-wise, 683 rulings (51%) were issued against women and 656 (49%) against men. The situation in Armiansk is particularly alarming: in the first half of 2025 alone, 164 cases were opened there.

We express our deep gratitude to everyone who continues the fight despite the constant threat. Every symbol, every word, every blue-and-yellow accent carries the power of resistance. These are signs that say: we have not disappeared, we are not silent, we stand strong.

When every gesture — from a post to a ribbon — can lead to a fine, a raid, or imprisonment, it becomes an act of remarkable courage. You are the soul of the resistance. And we reaffirm: Crimea has not surrendered. Crimea resists. Crimea is Ukraine.