Arrest: On August 14, 2024, FSB officers searched Oksana Senedzhuk's residence in occupied Sevastopol and detained her. After the arrest, she was taken to a temporary detention facility and later to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol. On August 15, 2024, the Russia-controlled Leninsky District Court of Sevastopol ordered her to be held in custody. Senedzhuk was charged under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'treason.'

Sentence: On December 26, 2024, the occupation Sevastopol City Court sentenced Oksana Senedzhuk to 15 years in a general regime colony, one year of restricted freedom after release, and a fine of 200,000 rubles. The trial was held in a closed session. On December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the sentence and the appeal decision.

Oksana Anatoliivna Senedzhuk was born on October 27, 1966. She is a philologist by education. She lived in Sevastopol, where she worked for many years and actively participated in community life.

Before the occupation of Crimea, Oksana Senedzhuk worked at the Sevastopol City State Administration. She was recognized with awards for her professional activities and active civic stance.

Senedzhuk participated in the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan. After the Russian occupation of Crimea began, she did not leave the peninsula and continued working in Sevastopol. Her daughter left occupied Crimea, while Oksana and her husband stayed to care for elderly parents.

After 2014, Senedzhuk worked as a chief specialist at the Scientific Research and Design Institute of Urban Planning, Architecture, Research, and Environment.

According to human rights defenders, the persecution of Oksana Senedzhuk by Russian security forces began in 2022. She was repeatedly summoned for questioning. In 2023, the pressure intensified: Russian security forces conducted investigative actions, seized equipment, and were interested in her correspondence and contacts with her daughter.

According to the Russian investigation, Senedzhuk allegedly transmitted photos and videos of Russian military ships in Sevastopol to Ukrainian intelligence. Human rights defenders emphasize that these charges were the basis for politically motivated persecution of the Ukrainian activist.

According to case materials, the Russian side claimed that Senedzhuk allegedly received tasks via Telegram from a former colleague, whom the investigation called a Ukrainian intelligence officer. According to the prosecution, she photographed the locations of military ships in Sevastopol and transmitted the obtained materials via cloud storage. These claims are the position of the Russian investigation and cannot be considered independently verified facts.

On August 14, 2024, after the search, Oksana Senedzhuk was detained. The next day, she was taken into custody. She was held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol during the case review.

On December 26, 2024, the occupation court in Sevastopol found Senedzhuk guilty of 'treason' and sentenced her to 15 years in prison, a fine, and additional restricted freedom after release. Ukrainian human rights organizations called the persecution politically motivated and demanded her immediate release. The joint statement was signed by ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, the Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, the Crimean Human Rights Group, and other human rights organizations.

In 2025, the appellate instance left the sentence unchanged. On December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation refused to satisfy the cassation appeal and upheld the punishment.

After the conclusion of the judicial proceedings, Senedzhuk was transferred from Crimea to Russia. In July 2024, it became known that she was sent to Women's Correctional Colony No. 7 in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia. The transfer took a long time and passed through several regions of Russia.

The distance from Sevastopol to the place of imprisonment is nearly 7,000 kilometers. Oksana's daughter requested to keep her mother closer to Crimea, as her 87-year-old grandmother needed care, but this request was ignored by the Russian side.

After imprisonment, Oksana Senedzhuk's health deteriorated. Her daughter reported vision problems, increased blood pressure, and a general decline in well-being. The conditions of prolonged transfer and the remoteness of the colony from family further complicate the possibility of receiving support from loved ones.

As of September 11, 2026, Oksana Senedzhuk continues to serve the sentence imposed by Russia in Women's Correctional Colony No. 7 in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russian Federation. Ukrainian human rights organizations consider her a political prisoner and demand her release.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Suspilne Crimea, Ukrinform.

Photo: ZMINA.

Last updated: 11.09.2026.