Arrest: On October 16, 2019, Ivan Yatskin, a Ukrainian citizen and resident of the Simferopol district, was detained by Russian security forces in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. FSB officers searched his home, seizing Ukrainian documents and a laptop. On the same day, Ivan Yatskin was unlawfully transferred from the occupied Crimean peninsula to Moscow and placed in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre. The Russian authorities concealed his detention for a long time; his family learned of his whereabouts only months later. He was charged with alleged state treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code. Russian investigators claimed that Ivan was collecting and transmitting information about Russian law enforcement officers in occupied Crimea to Ukrainian intelligence services. Ivan Yatskin denied the charges.

Sentence: On May 21, 2021, the Russian-controlled 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' sentenced Ivan Yatskin to 11 years in a strict regime colony and one year of restricted freedom after release. The trial and sentencing were held in a closed session, with case details withheld under claims of state secrecy by the Russian side. Yatskin was found guilty of 'state treason' in the form of espionage. Human rights defenders and Ukrainian authorities consider the criminal prosecution of Ivan politically motivated and fabricated. In September 2021, the Russian-controlled 'Supreme Court of Crimea' upheld the sentence, and in June 2022, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation rejected the cassation appeal.

Ivan Hryhorovych Yatskin was born on October 22, 1978, in the village of Voikove, Pervomaisky district, Crimea. He later lived in the Simferopol district. Ivan has a legal education and worked as a laborer in the years leading up to his arrest. He is a father of five children. Together with his wife, Gulnara Kadyrova, they raise three children, the youngest born after his arrest. For the family, Ivan's detention was a severe ordeal, as his wife was pregnant at the time of his imprisonment.

Before the Russian occupation of Crimea, Ivan led a normal life, working and caring for his family. After the occupation began, he openly expressed his pro-Ukrainian stance. According to human rights defenders and Ukrainian state bodies, this position may have been a reason for his persecution. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea notes that despite the pressure, Ivan Yatskin did not renounce his pro-Ukrainian views and remained a target for Russian repression. Russian investigators accused Ivan of allegedly carrying out tasks for the Security Service of Ukraine in 2016, collecting personal data of Russian law enforcement officers in occupied Crimea. The case was held in a closed session, leaving much of the material inaccessible to the public. Ivan's lawyer, Mykola Polozov, repeatedly highlighted issues with the evidence and reported the use of illegal investigative methods against his client.

While in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre, Ivan Yatskin reported torture and illegal interrogation methods. According to the Ukrainian Ombudsman, during his detention in Moscow, he was taken outside in freezing conditions without proper winter clothing, leading to serious health issues. On one occasion, he was left in severe cold without shoes or a coat. This worsened his leg condition and later exacerbated other chronic illnesses. Ivan also testified in court about the use of torture and illegal interrogation methods by FSB officers.

Ivan Yatskin's health required attention even before imprisonment, but his time in Russian detention significantly deteriorated it. He developed serious vascular problems in his legs, including thrombophlebitis and trophic ulcers. His vision worsened, and he faced dental issues and other ailments. ZMINA reported that the colony administration did not provide necessary treatment, and medications sent by his family were sometimes confiscated. Essential dressing materials and wound treatment supplies were not always provided.

After the trial, Ivan Yatskin was transferred from occupied Crimea to Russia to serve his sentence. The journey to the colony took about two months. During the transfer, he was held in Saratov's pre-trial detention centre, which human rights defenders have linked to cases of mistreatment of prisoners. There, his medications were confiscated, his ability to purchase water was restricted, and other obstacles were created. In protest, Ivan went on a hunger strike, which, according to the Ombudsman, lasted 25 days.

The pressure on Ivan during the transfer was also due to his principled stance. According to lawyer Mykola Polozov, Federal Penitentiary Service officers provoked him, particularly due to his refusal to tolerate derogatory remarks about Ukraine and Ukrainians. This led to problems with receiving items, medications, and access to the prison kiosk. Ivan refused to remain silent even when entirely dependent on the Russian penitentiary system's administration.

Ivan Yatskin is serving his sentence in a Russian colony in the Kemerovo region, thousands of kilometers from Crimea and his family. The distance significantly complicates visits from loved ones. In 2024, he spent about 50 days in a punishment cell (SHIZO) for alleged violations deemed fabricated by human rights defenders. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea also reported issues with medical care and inadequate detention conditions for Ivan.

In 2025, Ivan's health remained critical. Reports indicated that a trophic ulcer on his leg was not healing, making it difficult for him to move, requiring medication and a cane. Despite his leg issues, the Russian administration placed him on preventive supervision as someone allegedly 'prone to escape,' which is particularly telling given his physical condition. In July 2026, human rights defenders reported further critical deterioration in Ivan Yatskin's health due to years of Russian imprisonment. According to former Crimean political prisoner and journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, Ivan began losing orientation, and his letters became less coherent. His leg problems and trophic ulcers continued to progress. Human rights defenders emphasize the need for his release and proper medical care.

For Ivan's family, his imprisonment has been a years-long ordeal. His wife Gulnara raises their three children alone and tries to maintain contact with her husband. The distance to the Kemerovo region is thousands of kilometers, making regular visits extremely challenging and costly. In 2025, the family also reported that Ivan could not say goodbye to his mother, who passed away in June of that year. Due to his imprisonment and the significant distance from Crimea, he was not allowed to attend the funeral.

Ivan Yatskin's story exemplifies the persecution of Ukrainian citizens for their pro-Ukrainian stance in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. His case is part of the so-called 'Ukrainian spies' cases, where Russian occupation authorities accuse civilians of collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence services. Human rights organizations view Ivan Yatskin as a political prisoner and emphasize the fabrication of his case, the use of illegal investigative methods, inadequate detention conditions, and systematic violations of his rights.

Despite years of imprisonment, Ivan Yatskin has not renounced his pro-Ukrainian stance. His story illustrates how the Russian occupation system uses criminal prosecution, pressure, isolation, and inadequate detention conditions to suppress dissent in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. Today, Ivan remains unlawfully imprisoned in Russia and requires release, proper medical care, and return to his family.

Information sourced from open sources: Human Rights Center ZMINA; Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights; Suspilne Crimea; Krym.Realii; Radio Liberty; Crimean Solidarity; Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; Center for Investigative Journalism; National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

Photo: Crimean Human Rights Group.

Update date: 08.08.2026.