An occupier who took a civilian hostage in Kupiansk was sentenced to 10 years
In Ukraine, Russian soldier Alexander Erzin, nicknamed “Ryzh,” was sentenced to 10 years in prison for terrorizing female civilians in Kupiansk and threatening to kill them.
According to the investigation, in September 2025, the 55-year-old Russian soldier infiltrated Kupiansk and hid in a local police station, carrying an AK-12 assault rifle.
There, the occupier noticed two local women gathering firewood. Threatening them with his weapon, he forced one of them into the building, where he illegally detained and interrogated her.
The Russian soldier also used the woman as a hostage and demanded that her acquaintance bring him food. He threatened to kill the hostage if his demands were not met. After that, the occupier continued to threaten both women with his weapon and ordered them to bring him food again in a week.
Subsequently, SBU officers, together with members of the Defense Forces, captured Erzin. The court found him guilty of violating the laws and customs of war. Taking into account his cooperation with the investigation, the Russian soldier was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Source: SBU.
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