A Russian judge is suspected of unlawfully convicting a Ukrainian soldier
A Russian military judge has been notified of charges for the unlawful conviction of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. According to the investigation, he sentenced a defender who had been taken prisoner, even though international law prohibits the prosecution of military personnel solely for participating in hostilities.
The Office of the Prosecutor General announced that a judge of Russia’s 2nd Western District Military Court has been charged. He is accused of violating the laws and customs of war under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to the investigation, in June 2025, this judge handed down an unlawful verdict against a Ukrainian prisoner of war—a serviceman of the 17th Separate Heavy Mechanized Kryvyi Rih Brigade named after Kostyantyn Pestushko of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Ground Forces.
The Ukrainian soldier was taken prisoner by Russia in October 2024. Despite his official status as a prisoner of war, a Russian court found him guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison.
The prosecutor’s office emphasizes that this decision violates the norms of international humanitarian law. In particular, Article 99 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War prohibits holding prisoners criminally liable solely for their participation in hostilities. “Despite his status as a prisoner of war, the judge found the Ukrainian serviceman guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison for direct participation in an international armed conflict,” the Office of the Prosecutor General stated.
The office emphasized that Ukrainian military personnel defending their country cannot be convicted solely for carrying out combat missions. The use of the Russian judicial system to hand down such sentences constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and is a war crime. The investigation into the case is ongoing. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies continue to document cases of unlawful persecution of Ukrainian prisoners of war in order to hold all those involved accountable in the future. This was reported by
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