Ukraine: Terrorising Civilians

Missile attacks on civilian targets key to proving allegations of war crimes committed on a mass scale.

Captured Russian soldier, Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, attends a court hearing on May 18, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sgt. Shishimarin pleaded guilty to shooting a civilian on a bicycle in the village of Chupakhivka, Sumy Region, days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The trial of the Russian soldier was the first that Ukraine has conducted since the invasion related to charges that could be considered war crimes. © Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Interview

Ukraine: Ensuring Fair Trial for War Captives

Steep learning curve for Ukrainian justice system now tasked with prosecuting complex crimes under international humanitarian law.

Ukraine’s Southern Counteroffensive

The Ukrainian army is slowly gaining ground with the aim of cutting Russian supply chains.

Ayten Osmanova arranges a colourful hijab in her atelier in Azerbaijan's capital Baku. The designer started her fashion business to cater for the increasing number of liberal believers who, like her, sought a modest apparel with a modern, colourful twist. © Lamyia Adilgizi

Azerbaijani Women Embrace The Headscarf

Islam is on the rise in the oil-rich, secular South Caucasus country and the hijab is a way to make a statement.

The troupe of the Drama Theater of Mariupol at the end of the play. © Sergey Hudak

Photo Essay

Mariupol Theatre’s Actors Interpret the Cry of a Nation

Although the iconic cultural centre lies in ruins, those who kept it alive for decades are trying to revive its legacy.

Yevhen Nazarenko, 33, is a military reporter for the Ukrainian Witness YouTube project of the Come Back Alive Foundation, one of the country’s largest charitable funds. He has worked for Ukraine’s largest outlets, including 1+1, ICTV, Channel 24.

First Person

Ukraine: A Day in the Life of a Journalist on the Frontline

“As soon as we leave, a Russian shell lands exactly where we had been. If we’d left 30 seconds later, I would not be here to write this.”

A Ukrainian soldier walks near a destroyed Russian tank in the village of Gusarovka, in Kharkiv region. © Anatoliy Stepanov

Ukraine: Russia Renews “Firewall” Tactic in East

The Ukrainian side still has a serious resource deficit, but analysts argue that its greater international as well as domestic support - and military than rather political logic – should not be undervalued.

A microdistrict with more than 10 three-story buildings is being built in the village of Ivanyan, close to next to the base of Russian peacekeepers. Construction is ongoing to house thousands who have been displaced from the territories that Azerbaijan's armed forces regained control of as a result of the 2020 war. © Arshaluis Mghdesyan

Nagorny Karabakh’s Fearful Calm

Residents of the South Caucasus region feel subject to political maneuvering beyond their control.

A sign warns against the danger of mines in the Black Sea. Russian forces have laid mines in the sea, while some parts of the seashore in Odesa were mined by Ukraine's Armed Forces to prevent Russian landing. © Micheal Shtekel

Deadly Mines Infest Odesa Coast

Explosive devices that can be triggered “by a strong wave” continue to endanger both civilian lives and shipping.

Global Voices: Europe/Eurasia

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THIS WEEK ON CABAR.ASIA

Highlights from IWPR’s Central Asia network of analysis and investigations.

The construction of the Qosh Tepa canal in Afghanistan is causing water shortages in southern Uzbekistan, while in Kyrgyzstan the government is considering the construction of a nuclear power plant. In Kazakstan, conservation activists are working to save the Central Asian tortoise from extinction.

Elsewhere, CABAR delves into the efforts by Central Asian authorities to detect, reduce and prevent statelessness across the region.