Themes by tag: russian crimes

On June 28, Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform news agency will host a press conference entitled “Missing Ukrainians: presentation of the report on people abducted by russia in the occupied territories,” during which human rights defenders will present data on enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions of active citizens since the beginning of the full-scale war. The participants of the press conference will include:

• Natalia Okhotnikova, Human Rights Adviser at ZMINA
• Maryia Kvitsinskaya, Expert on Europe and Central Asia at the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
• Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (participation to be confirmed)
• Anna, a friend of the kidnapped volunteer, an active parishioner of one of Marharyta Kharenko’s churches
• Oleksandra Stoliar, the mother of kidnapped Iryna Navalna, an active citizen who was accused of planning sabotage in Mariupol
• Anhelina, the sister of the wife of the kidnapped volunteer Yaroslav Zhuk

For reference: russia has been abducting Ukrainians since 2014 in the occupied territories, but after the full-scale invasion, there have been many more cases of disappearances. The russian federation is doing this deliberately in order to suppress the active Ukrainian resistance in the occupation. ZMINA Human Rights Center collected data on enforced disappearances during the full-scale war.  

• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The damaged Russian military equipment exhibit on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv. The enemy UAVs, burned BM-21 ‘Grad’ rockets, broken tanks, trucks, and infantry fighting vehicles are among the pieces. The enemy drones and the remains of missiles regularly targeting Ukrainian cities are also on display. The Military History Museum of Ukraine prepared the exhibition. It will be open until 6:00 pm on June 18.

For reference: The Military History Museum of Ukraine collects artifacts of the Russian-Ukrainian war. There is currently an exhibition dedicated to the Russian cruiser Moskva’s destruction, featuring the remains of a Neptune anti-ship missile that hit the flagship and a life preserver from the ship.

• culture
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

The Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights works with children who have been subjected or become witnesses of russian crimes. At the institution, specialists receive information from children and their families, conduct medical examinations and provide the necessary assistance.

The Center operates according to the Bring Kids Back UA action plan. This is a set of measures taken by the Ukrainian authorities, foreign governments and international organizations that protect children’s rights. In particular, this plan is to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to russia.

• children
• russian crimes

ZooPatrol Volunteers have already brought over a hundred animals from the Kherson region and continue to rescue new ones. The shelter, the clinic, and the partner foster house pets. 

These days, people have already started coming to adopt the saved animals. In addition, volunteers are looking for the previous owners of the animals.

For reference: ZooPatrol is a non-governmental organization formed at the beginning of the full-scale invasion to rescue, evacuate, treat, and find homes for wildlife affected by war and human cruelty.

• animals
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Various items continue to wash up on the beaches of Odesa Oblast, including building parts and pieces of furniture that washed up in Kherson Oblast due to Russia blowing up the Kakhovka dam. City services periodically clean the city’s beaches, but the sea keeps bringing more and more debris to the shore. Journalists will have the opportunity to talk to environmentalists and volunteers who will show the state of the beaches and tell them about the dangers of coastal littering.

• ecology
• russian crimes
• Odesa

The Khortytsia National Reserve also suffered due to the occupiers’ blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Experts have recorded the water bodies shallowing. In addition, the reserve administration notes that the water level drop in the Dnipro River has revealed the remains of wooden bridges dating back to 1944, which had been underwater for almost 70 years. Read more here.

Journalists can also learn more from local scientists about the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP explosion for the Kamianska Sich National Park in the Kherson region.

For reference: The Khortytsia National Reserve includes the island of Khortytsia (the largest Dnipro island), the adjacent(Baida, Try Stohy, Dubovyi, Rozstebyn islands, and Serednia, Blizniuky rocks), and the Vyrva tract on the right bank of the Dnipro, as well as the Kamianska Sich historical monument of national importance in Kherson region.

• russian crimes
• Zaporizhzhia

People and the environment suffer from the consequences of the occupiers’ blowing up of Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, and the country’s economy will see significant losses as well. In particular, the impossibility of taking water from the irrigation canals will make agriculture very difficult. Losses related to grain, oilseeds, vegetables and melon crops will be significant, and the situation will be difficult for the dairy industry as well. Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, made this statement during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. More details are available here.

Journalists are invited to ask for an expert’s comment to learn more about how this situation will affect Ukraine’s agriculture and economy.

• russian crimes

Building Ukraine Together (BUR) is creating a base of hosts from its community, who are ready to shelter people affected by the occupiers’ blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP. The volunteers will transfer the collected contact database to partner organizations that are directly involved in evacuating and finding accommodation for the victims.

Journalists are invited to learn more about this initiative and, if possible, talk to a volunteer who has already been included into the contact database and is ready to provide shelter for victims.

For reference: Building Ukraine Together is an NGO that creates opportunities for young people to bring about changes in the country through volunteering.

• casualties
• russian crimes
• volunteers

Representatives of the animal protection organization “UAnimals” are rescuing animals that suffered as a result of russians blowing up the Kakhovka HPP dam. (There are frightened and abandoned pets).

Over the past day alone, animal activists and concerned citizens have evacuated more than a hundred animals from flooded areas.

In addition, the day before, “UAnimals” launched a series of single-person pickets under the slogan “russia is killing the planet.”

• animals
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Kherson

On June 8, Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform will host a press conference by Dmytro Zaruba, First Deputy Head of the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine. The topics of focus include: the ecological consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka HPP and the damage caused by russian aggression to the environment of Ukraine.

• ecology
• russian crimes
• Kyiv