Iryna Domashchenko

Kyiv-based IWPR's court reporter

IWPR's court reporter, she regularly writes for the Ukraine's Justice Report. She also works with Ukraine's Media Initiative For Human Rights and has previously worked for the Court Reporter justice platform. Based in Kyiv, Iryna is originally from the southern port city of Kherson where she reported for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Stories by the Author

Nikolai Kartashev follows the proceedings in the Irpinsky court in September 2023. The senior artillery gunner is accused of killing an unarmed supermarket guard in the village of Bucha in March 2022. He was captured by Ukraine’s Armed Forces in February 2023 in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Nikolai Kartashev follows the proceedings in the Irpinsky court in September 2023. The senior artillery gunner is accused of killing an unarmed supermarket guard in the village of Bucha in March 2022. He was captured by Ukraine’s Armed Forces in February 2023 in the northeastern Kharkiv region. © Irina Domashchenko

Russian Soldier To Face Trial for Murdering Supermarket Guard

Case will proceed after Kyiv court of appeal accepts prosecutor's objections over procedural shortcomings.

12 Mar 24

Inside the basement of the school in the village of Yahidne where 368 civilians were kept by Russian forces for nearly a month in March 2022.

Inside the basement of the school in the village of Yahidne where 368 civilians were kept by Russian forces for nearly a month in March 2022. © Irina Domashchenko

Yahidne: Hearing Against 15 Russian Soldiers Ends

In March 2022, nearly 400 civilians were crammed into a cellar and used as human shields by occupation forces.

5 Mar 24

Judges at the Chernihiv District Court on February 21, 2024 for the case against Russian soldiers Artem Tereshonkov and Vladyslav Dongak who are accused of shooting at a car with six civilians on March 3, 2022, killing two.

Judges at the Chernihiv District Court on February 21, 2024 for the case against Russian soldiers Artem Tereshonkov and Vladyslav Dongak who are accused of shooting at a car with six civilians on March 3, 2022, killing two. © Irina Domashchenko

Two Russian Soldiers to be Tried for Shooting Civilian Car, Killing Two

The men opened fire with machine guns on a vehicle carrying fleeing villagers.

27 Feb 24

A Ukrainian police officer stands guard in the hallway of a preliminary detention centre which is believed to have been used by Russian forces to jail and torture Ukrainians in Kherson, Ukraine.

A Ukrainian police officer stands guard in the hallway of a preliminary detention centre which is believed to have been used by Russian forces to jail and torture Ukrainians in Kherson, Ukraine. © Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Russian "Commandant" Sentenced for Kidnapping Kherson Official

Victim was beaten in an attempt to force him to collaborate with the occupation authorities.

19 Feb 24

22-year-old Sergei Agafonov, Russian soldier, has been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for shooting dead two civilians in the village of Hayvoron in the Chernihiv region in April 2022.

22-year-old Sergei Agafonov, Russian soldier, has been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for shooting dead two civilians in the village of Hayvoron in the Chernihiv region in April 2022. © Ed Ram/Getty Images

Russian Soldier Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

Judges reject defence lawyer’s argument that there was a lack of proper evidence to support a murder charge.

13 Feb 24

Smoke rises from the site of a Russian artillery attack on a civilian village in Mykolaiv oblast, Ukraine. The Russians did not advance deep into the Mykolaiv region, but Novokyivka remained under occupation for eight and-a-half months until on November 11, Ukrainian forces liberated the village.

Smoke rises from the site of a Russian artillery attack on a civilian village in Mykolaiv oblast, Ukraine. The Russians did not advance deep into the Mykolaiv region, but Novokyivka remained under occupation for eight and-a-half months until on November 11, Ukrainian forces liberated the village. © Carl Court/Getty Images

Two Russian Soldiers on Trial for Torturing Civilians

Seven villagers were taken to a graveyard where they were beaten and subjected to mock executions.

6 Feb 24

Chernihiv Court of Appeals in session on 22 January 2024.

Chernihiv Court of Appeals in session on 22 January 2024. © Iryna Domashchenko

Russian Pilot’s Appeal Rejected

Defence lawyer had asked for offence to be reclassified from war crime to intentional murder.

30 Jan 24

An elderly man walks by an apartment block that was destroyed by a Russian missile attack earlier in the month, on October 28, 2022 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

An elderly man walks by an apartment block that was destroyed by a Russian missile attack earlier in the month, on October 28, 2022 in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. © Carl Court/Getty Images

Torture in Vasylivka

Local men were subjected to electric shocks, beatings and mock executions during interrogation.

23 Jan 24

On October 24, 2023, Chernihiv's Novozavodsky District Court of Chernihiv examined the interview that Russian pilot Alexander Krasnoiartsev gave on March 24, 2022 to Ukrainian blogger Volodymyr Zolkin.

On October 24, 2023, Chernihiv's Novozavodsky District Court of Chernihiv examined the interview that Russian pilot Alexander Krasnoiartsev gave on March 24, 2022 to Ukrainian blogger Volodymyr Zolkin. © Iryna Domashchenko

“Reporting War Crimes Trials Was Not My Plan. Then Russia Invaded.”

How a journalist from Kherson dedicated herself to the arduous but essential task of covering court cases.

16 Jan 24

Tank gunner-operator Yuriy Zaporozhskyi and his commander Nikita Khlystov.

Tank gunner-operator Yuriy Zaporozhskyi and his commander Nikita Khlystov. © Security Service of Ukraine

Russian Tankers Accused of Shelling Residential Houses

According to the investigation, they wanted to "teach" villagers a lesson by targeting homes.

16 Jan 24

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