On 28 December 2022, a Russian court in occupied Crimea sentenced citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych to 7 years of prison for allegedly acquiring or keeping explosive items, a charge which Danylovych fully refutes and links to her work as an activist and citizen journalist. Danylovych was also fined the equivalent of 650 euros. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denounced the move, which it said was part of Russian repression against pro-Ukrainian activists in Crimea.

Before her arrest, Iryna Danyloviyh worked as a nurse in the city of Koktebel and as a citizen journalist covering issues in the health sector in Russia-annexed Crimea. Her reports appeared on Ukrainian news website Injir-Media and on Krym.realii, a news portal for Crimea run by of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Iryna Danylovych also ran a YouTube channel, where she published videos on various topics, including on labour rights of hospital staff.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denounced the move, which it said was part of Russian repression against Ukrainian activists and journalists in Crimea.

UPDATE: On 21 March 2023, Ukrainian free press groups warned that Danylovych’s health was rapidly deteriorating, and that her life was at risk if she continued to be deprived of necessary medical care by prison authorities. On the same day, the citizen journalist went on hunger strike to demand medical treatment after she fainted while being transported to a court for a hearing in her case.

UPDATE: On 29 June 2023, the Russia-appointed Supreme Court of Crimea overall maintained Danylovych’s 7-year sentence, shortening it by one month only. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and international human rights groups said the citizen journalist continued to be deprived of necessary medical care, and had already lost hearing in her left ear.