22 April 2025
WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN OCCUPIED CRIMEA ON APRIL 22, 2025
Main news of the week
▶ Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Tarapon has been released after two and a half years of unlawful imprisonment by the Russian occupation administration. Since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea in 2014, he actively opposed the actions of the invaders. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, he distributed anti-war leaflets in Alushta and nearby villages, which led to his sentencing by the occupying regime.
Crimes committed by the Russian Federation
▶ As of April 2025, Russia has illegally imprisoned 224 people in occupied Crimea on ethnic, religious, and political grounds, including 134 Crimean Tatars.
▶ Russian occupation forces in Kerch have unlawfully detained Moldovan citizen Yevhen Kurdohlu, accusing him of allegedly passing information to the Ukrainian Armed Forces about Russian military equipment and infrastructure in Crimea. He has been falsely charged under articles related to terrorism and illegal possession of explosives. These actions constitute a blatant violation of human rights, including the right to liberty, a fair trial, and protection from arbitrary detention and politically motivated persecution — all in direct contravention of international law, including the Geneva Conventions.
▶ The occupation “court” has rejected the complaint of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Server Zekiriaieva, who was unlawfully sentenced to 13 years in prison, regarding inhumane conditions in a punishment isolation cell and solitary confinement. According to his lawyer, these conditions amount to torture, and an appeal of the decision is planned. Such actions by the Russian occupation administration toward political prisoners from occupied Crimea represent serious violations of human rights, particularly the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment as outlined in international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture.
▶ Ismail Shemshedinov became a victim of gross human rights violations committed by the Russian occupation administration in temporarily occupied Crimea. On 26 January 2024, he was forcibly abducted in the village of Isliam-Terek without any legal grounds. During the arrest, he was not provided with any official documentation or explanation of the reasons for his detention, constituting a direct violation of his right to liberty and personal security, as guaranteed by international law. For a long time, his whereabouts remained unknown, indicating the use of enforced disappearance tactics. He is currently being unlawfully held in Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 2 in Simferopol — yet another example of systematic repression targeting the Crimean Tatar population by the occupying state.
▶ The occupation “court” rejected the cassation appeal in the case of five Crimean Tatars — Akim Bekirov, Asan Yanikov, Eskender Suleimanov, Rustem Seitkhalilov, and Seitveli Seitabdiiev — upholding the politically motivated verdict based on fabricated charges. The “court” also denied motions to access the audio transcript and to re-interrogate anonymous witnesses, representing a blatant violation of the right to a fair trial. This ruling is part of the ongoing systemic repression of Crimean Tatars by the Russian occupation administration.
The use of occupied Crimea as a springboard for attacks on Ukraine and the militarization of the peninsula
▶ Activists of the ATESH resistance movement report that Russian National Guard forces have increased patrols in occupied Simferopol due to fears of local partisans. Additionally, the movement’s agents observed that family members of senior officers of the Russian Black Sea Fleet have fled Sevastopol amid growing panic.
▶ According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian occupation forces launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian territory throughout the week. These included 409 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Shahed-Geran, and Herbera types; 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles; 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles; 3 Oniks anti-ship missiles; and 2 Kh-31P anti-radar missiles — many launched from occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. Despite Russia’s declared so-called “Easter truce,” the occupiers continued their massive attacks on Ukrainian territory, including strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion and spread its armed aggression throughout Ukraine, occupied Crimea has been used by Russia as a military base for spreading aggression in various forms. From the peninsula, the occupiers continue to launch attacks on the territory of Ukraine, including on civilian infrastructure.
The resistance movement of Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea
▶ Russia has already prosecuted 1279 people in occupied Crimea for expressing solidarity with Ukraine, who are being subjected to administrative penalties in the form of illegal fines and arrests.
▶ A 23-year-old resident of occupied Crimea expressed support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and spoke out against Russian occupiers and the so-called “president of the Russian Federation,” Vladimir Putin, on social media. Russian occupation forces unlawfully detained the woman and filed administrative charges against her under Article 20.3.3 for so-called “discreditation of the Russian army” and Article 20.1 for “petty hooliganism.”
▶ A resident of occupied Simferopol posted critical statements on social media regarding the Russian population and the occupiers. She was detained by Russian security forces and now faces up to 5 years of imprisonment.
▶ Activists of the Yellow Ribbon resistance movement once again distributed ribbons and stickers across temporarily occupied Crimea — including at public transport stops in Yalta, on mailboxes in Sevastopol, in the streets of Simferopol, and other crowded locations. Activists also report that in Simferopol, the occupation administration is conducting so-called “anti-terrorism drills” in schools, during which students’ personal belongings are inspected.
▶ The Crimean Combat Seagulls movement continues to expose the personal data of collaborators and Russian war criminals in occupied Crimea. The activists extended Easter greetings and reminded the public that resistance in occupied Crimea persists.
▶ The Zla Mavka resistance movement continues to publish their diaries, documenting life under occupation. In Simferopol, members of the movement carried out a protest action, distributing around one hundred leaflets bearing the slogan: “Fight — and you will win! The power is in you!”
The full-scale invasion was marked by a rapid increase in solidarity and resistance actions by residents of occupied Crimea against the Russian occupiers. Residents of occupied territories unite in resistance movements, such as the above-mentioned Yellow Ribbon, Crimean Combat Seagulls, Zla Mavka, and ATESH, or act individually. To suppress the resistance movement of residents in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea after February 24, 2022, the occupiers actively began to prosecute and bring to administrative responsibility Ukrainian citizens under the article on the so-called “discrediting the Russian army.”
De-occupation of Crimea is integral to ending the war and restoring peace. Ukrainians are doing everything they can to stop the aggressor and protect the entire world from Russia’s criminal actions. This is not a local or regional issue but a threat to the world and international order.