Maryna Pasyuk

Part of the road from Saky to Yevpatoria goes along the Black Sea. Sand beaches of Western Seashore of Crimea are called golden. Their origin is not volcanic. They were formed by covers of mollusks grinded by the sea. 

After the beginning of Russian full scale war against Ukraine, Russian occupants built trenches and shelters in golden sands and all Crimean seashore. They also reserved large part of the seashore for the giant resort complex. It is built by Group of Companies “Monolith” connected with Sergii Aksyonov, Russian “governor” of Crimea. 

In accordance with international humanitarian law, such an activity of aggressor state on occupied territories is qualified as war crime. We will name its accomplices. 

«Sanctions will make Russia stronger», «Russia is successful in import replacement», «GDP grows» are regular slogans of Russian officials and propagandists.

The Center of Journalist Investigations asked its readers in occupied Crimea – have Russian aggression against Ukraine and imposed Western sanctions influenced quality of their lives? Readers’ feedback was expected: sanctions negatively impacted their everyday life – from food and drugs to cars.

Dozens of dead dolphins, hundreds of dead birds, dozens of square kilometers of polluted sea shore – these are the first outcomes of shipwreck in the Kerch Strait on December 15. Sea storm broke and sank two Russian tankers «Volgoneft-212» and «Volgoneft-239» with over 9 thousand tons of fuel oil. In accordance with preliminary data, half of them have already spilled into the sea. The leakage continues as Russian authorities were slow in pumping fuel oil from drowned tankers.

Fuel oil reached sea shores of Anapa in Krasnodarsky krai of the Russian Federation and Kerch in occupied Crimea. It has killed sea species and polluted beaches. Ecologists believe that spots of fuel oil may reach Yalta whereas it will take years to overcome negative outcomes of the shipwreck.

Recently released data of the Crimean Committee of Statistics about socio-economic situation in January-September 2024 demonstrated a number of serious problems in Crimea: the fall of construction, industrial and agricultural production and worsening social situation. Data about various branches of economy has been closed.

In Crimea, numerous people call themselves «volunteers» and support bloody Russian aggression against Ukraine. They deliver food, clothes, camouflage nets, drugs, drones and thermal cameras to Russian occupants.

One of the most influential persons of Russia, Herman Gref, the Head of  «Sberbank of Russia», old friend of Vladimir Putin, actively develops the Southern Shore of Crimea. For his benefit, lucrative land plots are transferred or expropriated from local residents; buildings are destroyed; Massandra vineyards and unique forests are erased; property and businesses of local entrepreneurs and even unique tourist objects are eliminated. Gref replaces them with multi-billion palaces and hotels. Russian Crimean «authorities» are waiters who deliver their hungry «guest» new and more delicious meals.

In June 2024, Russian occupation authorities of Crimea conducted «nationalization» of Ukrainian property. Four star park hotel «Porto Mare» in Alushta has been among the most expensive assets. This story has clear signs of Russian war crime. It also demonstrates collaborative activity of Ukrainian founders of «Porto Mare» in Russian jurisdiction. They openly support Russian «special military operation», deliver financial and material assistance to the Russian Armed Forces whereas real owners of business – members of the family of brothers Vadym Vaispapir and Mykhailo Yevstratov – refuse to evaluate their activity (watch video version of investigation here).

Crimea has experienced problems with water supply during all ten years of Russian occupation. North Crimean Canal, the main line of water supply, has satisfied Crimean needs by waters of Dnieper River by 85%. After the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Canal was closed. In 2023, Russian occupants exploded a dam of Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant and re-launch of the Canal failed. Now occupants try to solve the problem of water scarcity by all possible means. So far, their efforts are unsuccessful.

«State Council» of occupied Crimea has illegally expropriated assets of 112 Ukrainian companies and citizens for their «cooperation» with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Center of Journalist Investigations studied the list of expropriated assets and found out a lot of interesting facts. Information about «double» or hidden life of some Ukrainian politicians and businessmen was disclosed.

Occupied Crimea suffers from growing labor shortage. It covers all branches and spheres: health care, education, construction, tourist, industry, agriculture and even Russian occupation authorities and law enforcement bodies. For example, graduate from the Russian “Academy of prosecutors” Olga Vladimirovna Rastrigina has been recently appointed as the “acting Minister of Health Care” of occupied Crimea.