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In this week’s bulletin: More evidence of Russian torture and war crimes; new report on the criminalisation of life under Russia’s occupation; new UN report on forcible transfer and forced displacement; the plight of Russian prisoners.
News from the territories occupied by Russia:
Mystery ‘treason’ charges against abducted 63-year-old Oleksandr Osadchy for supporting Ukraine in occupied Crimea (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 15th)
Russia passes effective life sentence against 61-year-old Crimean for a video of zero interest (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 14th)
Valeriy Vakulenko sentenced to 18 years for destroying a Russian invaders’ tank in March 2022 (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 12th)
Weekly update on the situation in occupied Crimea (Crimea Platform, May 12th)
News from the front:
Putin launches massive attacks after signalling war’s end (Counteroffensive, May 14th)
Ukrainian drones crashing in Lativia trigger a government crisis as the nation’s defense minister resigns (Meduza, May 12th)
News from Ukraine:
The Ukrainian Parliament Adopts an Appeal on the International Recognition of the Crimean Tatar Genocide (Crimea Platform, May 14th)
300 people protested against the draft of the new Ukrainian Civil Code (Facebook, May 11th)
Report: Ukraine proposes splitting military recruitment offices, setting fixed service terms (Meduza, May 11th)
Boy versus Russian drone (Washington Post, May 2026)
War-related news from Russia:
Russia’s Antiwar Prisoners Are Outcasts in Their Own Land (Jacobin, May 16th)
Russia’s biggest nationalist group is funded by a pro-Kremlin analyst and a billionaire linked to the son of a former FSB chief, BBC investigation finds (Meduza, May 15th)
Brutal raid on woman’s birthday party highlights rise of Russian vigilante group (BBC, May 15th)
“Day and night I am tormented by my own powerlessness”. Human rights activist Nina Litvinova, 80, has taken her own life over the war and the plight of political prisoners (Mediazona, May 15th)
The conservative turn of Russian rap (Posle Media, May 13th)
Russian director Alexander Sokurov withdraws from Venice Biennale after activists’ open letter calls his participation a staged performance (Meduza, May 11th)
Analysis and comment:
The tale of Yermak: how Zelensky’s former right-hand man ended up under arrest on corruption charges (The Insider, May 16th)
The Cards (Russian Reader, May 16th)
How the “methane” reform could help Ukraine move closer to EU and generate revenue (Razom We Stand, May 15th)
Kremlin-style colonialism: Russian propaganda is actively preparing Africans for military service in Ukraine (The Insider, May 15th)
Taxes, costly credit, and labor shortages: Why private businesses in Russia are shutting down en masse (The Insider, May 14th)
Improving the Social Protection Reform Implementation in Hromadas of Ukraine: Cedos Launches a New Project (Cedos, May 14th)
Digital threats and Russian disinformation: ZMINA highlighted challenges facing civil society within the OSCE framework in Vienna (Zmina, May 13th)
Russia remains the greatest threat: ZMINA highlighted Ukrainian civil society at the OSCE SHDM in Vienna ((Zmina, May 12th)
Strait to stagnation: Why not even soaring oil prices can offset the decline of the Russian economy (The Insider, May 11th)
Anatomy of a purge: Cleanup at the Ministry of Defense and the future of Putinism (Russian election Monitor, May 11th)
Mindich, Denmark, nationalisation – and US$7 billion: we unpack the main controversies surrounding Fire Point (Ukrainska Pravda, May 7th)
The main problem with Ukraine’s corruption prevention watchdog (Kyiv Independent, May 4th)
Four years of “prevention”. What problems remain in the practice of holding individuals accountable for collaborative activity in 2025? (Zmina, April 2026)
Research of human rights abuses:
France arrests pro-Russian militant for war crimes over torture of Ukrainian hostages at Izolyatsia prison in occupied Donetsk (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 15th)
In Brussels, the Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children presented new mechanisms reflecting the civil society statement (Zmina, May 14th)
Help to #FreeIrynaHorobtsova – seized by the Russians on her birthday, sentenced to 10.5 years for Ukrainian patriotism (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 13th)
Yevhen Zakharov: ‘In no country have I seen such an awareness and vocal support for Ukraine as in Sweden’ (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 12th)
Handing over lists of political prisoners, meetings with officials and the Crimean Tatar diaspora: outcomes of ZMINA’s visit to Türkiye (Zmina, May 11th)
ECHR orders Russia to pay compensation to Crimean Tatars arrested and prosecuted for peaceful protest (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 11th)
Only one Mother’s Day wish after almost 9 years of torture – Free my son, Victor Dzytsiuk! (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, May 11th)
Documenting war crimes and supporting victims: human rights defenders meet with British official Alex Davies-Jones (Zmina, May 11th)
ZMINA at United for Justice: the accountability system for international crimes requires a comprehensive policy approach (Zmina, May 8th)
Forced displacement from territory of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation: forcible transfer and deportation, barriers to return, and the rights of internally displaced persons, 24 February 2022 – 31 December 2025 20 March (UNHCHR, May 2026)
International Solidarity
Vestochka (A Way to Write Letters to Russian Political Prisoners) (Russian Reader, May 14th)
Upcoming events:
USC meeting: Truth Under Siege: How Russian Disinformation Fuels the Far Right
Wednesday 20th May, 7:30pm Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-russian-disinformation-fuels-the-far-right-and-how-we-can-fight-back-tickets-1989210067861 Chair: John McDonnell MP. Speakers: Steve Lacey – Researcher and analyst specialising in far‑right movements, populism, and Russian disinformation. Thomas Brayford – Activist and commentator active in Ukraine solidarity campaigning and political affairs. Sian Norris – Writer and investigative journalist covering far‑right extremism, gender politics, and the war on Ukraine. Yuliia Bond – Ukrainian refugee and community campaigner advocating for displaced people and solidarity with Ukraine.
Voices Against Putin’s War: An Evening in Solidarity with Ukraine
Tuesday, 26th May 2026 : 19:00 – 20:15, Lighthouse Bookshop, 43-45 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DB. More information here.
Voices Against Putin’s War with Dr Simon Pirani & Fellow Readers | 27th May @ 7pm More details here.
==This bulletin is put together by labour movement activists in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance. To receive it by email each Monday, email us at 2022ukrainesolidarity@gmail.com
Ukraine Information Group 
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