14 October 2025
WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN OCCUPIED CRIMEA ON OCTOBER 14, 2025
Main news of the week
▶ During the night of October 13, the Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out a strike on the Feodosia oil transshipment terminal in the temporarily occupied Crimea. This was already the third strike by the Defense Forces on an oil facility in the past two weeks — the first took place on September 29, and the second on October 6. As a result of the strike, a large-scale fire broke out on the premises of the facility.
Crimes committed by the Russian Federation
▶ As of October 2025, Russia has unlawfully imprisoned 222 people in the occupied Crimea on ethnic, religious, and political grounds, including 133 Crimean Tatars.
▶ Crimean Tatar political prisoner Enver Ametov, unlawfully sentenced by the occupying authorities to 13 years in prison, is suffering from leg diseases that developed in detention. One of his legs has gone numb, and varicose veins have appeared on both. In the same prison, Ametov was diagnosed with hepatitis B. After being transferred to Correctional Colony No. 6 in the Pskov region, his health condition deteriorated — he began experiencing stronger headaches and persistent leg numbness. His family tried to secure an MRI examination for him, but without success. Later, he appealed to a prison paramedic, who referred him to a surgeon, yet due to the doctor’s prolonged absence, Ametov has been unable to undergo the examination for more than two months.
▶ Crimean activist Oleh Fedorov, unlawfully sentenced to 13 years in prison, spent eight months in punishment isolation cells in Udmurtia colonies. According to his wife, Fedorov’s health has deteriorated during his time in isolation — his chronic illnesses have worsened, and his family has been sending him the necessary medication. She also said that Fedorov has lost a significant amount of weight, as he eats only meals that do not contain pork, leaving him with only breakfast and dinner options. The activist’s wife added that she has repeatedly requested her husband’s transfer to a facility closer to home, but has been receiving rejections for nearly a year.
▶ The oldest Crimean political prisoner, Volodymyr Ananiev, accused by Russian occupiers of allegedly “plotting an assassination attempt” on the so-called “head of Crimea” Sergey Aksyonov, has had his unlawful pre-trial detention extended until February 5, 2026.
▶ The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published information about more than 170 Ukrainian cultural artifacts stolen by Russian occupiers from temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea. In particular, during illegal archaeological excavations on the peninsula, Russians stole over 140 artifacts from the Southern Suburb of Chersonesus Taurica (Sevastopol), the Kadykovske settlement (a Roman military camp near Balaklava), and the Byzantine architectural monument “Church of John the Baptist” in Kerch. In addition, the occupiers removed 37 exhibits from the National Historical and Archaeological Museum “Kamiana Mohyla” in Melitopol, which in 2023 were illegally transferred to the “Chersonesus Taurica” museum under the guise of a “temporary exhibition” titled “The Spiritual World of the Ancestors in the Petroglyphs of Kamiana Mohyla.”
▶ Relatives of Crimean political prisoner Denys Petranov described the conditions of his detention over the past two years and called on international humanitarian organizations to step up efforts to assist Ukrainians held in Russian prisons. Reportedly, the conditions are appalling: food and water are of poor quality, many prisoners lack underwear and bedding, and hygiene items and insect repellents are in short supply. There is also a severe shortage of essential medicines. It is noted that under such conditions, prisoners can rely only on humanitarian aid from the Red Cross and other organizations.
▶ The wife of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Emil Ziyadinov, unlawfully sentenced by an occupation court to 17 years in prison, reported that her husband has been held in a punishment isolation cell for a year in Correctional Colony No. 5 in the city of Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk region. According to her, immediately after his transfer to the colony in September 2024, he was placed in isolation, where he remains to this day. In April 2025, Ziyadinov was temporarily taken to a hospital for surgery, but after returning in May, he was again placed in solitary confinement. The wife stated that Emil has not been informed of the reasons for such punishment. Due to his confinement, the political prisoner is deprived of the right to receive parcels from relatives, use money transfers to buy necessities in the prison shop, or see his family.
▶ The occupying authorities have extended the unlawful detention of five defendants in the so-called “third Dzhankoi group case,” keeping them in pre-trial custody until January 13, 2026. The only exception was former imam Remzi Kurtniezirov, who was released from custody.
The use of occupied Crimea as a springboard for attacks on Ukraine and the militarization of the peninsula
▶ Activists of the “ATESH” movement conducted reconnaissance of a launch site for Shahed-136 and Geran drones located near the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol. According to their data, this platform is actively used by Russian servicemen to carry out attacks against peaceful Ukrainian cities, including residential areas, energy facilities, and civilian infrastructure. During the reconnaissance mission, they recorded precise coordinates, operating schedules, and the security system of the site.
The movement emphasized that every such identified and transmitted target means saved lives of peaceful Ukrainians and a reduction of the enemy’s terrorist capabilities.
Agents of the resistance movement also conducted reconnaissance of the training ground of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Over several weeks, they observed personnel activities and command movements. Detailed data were collected on training schedules, routes, and key facilities, which were transferred to the Defence Forces of Ukraine for further operational use.
The movement noted that even in closed military facilities in Crimea, the occupiers cannot avoid observation, and the monitoring of enemy infrastructure in the temporarily occupied territories continues.
▶ A monitoring group reported that Sevastopol partisans conducted reconnaissance of Russian air defence positions near the temporarily occupied city of Inkerman. According to their data, an S-300/S-400 surface-to-air missile system is deployed on a dominant height known as Zelenaya Hill. From this position, the SAM system covers Sevastopol Bay, weapons and ammunition depots, the fuel storage of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Sevastopol TPP, and other facilities. In addition, a radar station was detected deployed on Mount Champagne.
▶ According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian occupiers carried out a series of massive combined attacks across Ukraine over the past week — using 412 attack UAVs of the Shahed, Shahed-Geran, and Gerbera types, 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 12 Iskander-K cruise missiles launched from both the occupied Crimea and the Black Sea area.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the expansion of its military aggression across Ukraine, occupied Crimea has been used by Russia as a military base for further aggression in various forms. From the territory of the peninsula, the occupiers continue to launch attacks against Ukraine, including on civilian infrastructure.
The resistance movement of Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea
▶ For showing solidarity with Ukraine, Russia has already persecuted 1,585 people in the occupied territory of Crimea. These individuals have been subjected to illegal administrative penalties, including fines and arrests.
▶ A resident of occupied Simferopol anonymously expressed support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and condemned Russian occupiers on social media. The occupation authorities detained the man, accused him of so-called “discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”, and fined him 50,000 rubles. At the same time, the occupation administration is “considering initiating a criminal case.”
▶ Activists of the “Yellow Ribbon” movement released new photos and videos showing the burning of Vladimir Putin’s portrait in temporarily occupied Crimea. According to movement members, this time the dictator’s image was burned in Yevpatoria and Simferopol. Activists noted that these actions are meant to demonstrate to the world the true attitude of Crimean residents toward Russian occupiers.
▶ Activists of “Crimean Combat Seagulls” continue to expose personal data of collaborators and Russian war criminals in occupied Crimea.
▶ The “Zla Mavka” resistance movement reported that in the temporarily occupied cities of Simferopol and Sevastopol, more than a hundred stickers appeared with the slogan “Not yours — that’s why you’re pissed off.” According to activists, the stickers were placed near so-called “administration” buildings, in parks, and at bus stops — places frequently visited by occupiers.
The full-scale invasion marked a significant increase in acts of solidarity and resistance by residents of occupied Crimea against Russian occupation. Locals have joined resistance movements such as “Yellow Ribbon,” “Crimean Combat Seagulls,” “Zla Mavka,” and “ATESH,” or act individually.
To suppress civic resistance on the temporarily occupied peninsula after 24 February 2022, the occupiers intensified persecution and administrative punishment of Ukrainian citizens under the so-called “discrediting the Russian army”article.
The de-occupation of Crimea remains an integral part of ending the war and restoring peace. Ukrainians continue doing everything possible to stop the aggressor and protect the world from Russia’s criminal actions. This is not a local or regional issue — Russian aggression threatens the entire world and the international order.