In Russia, a deceased Ukrainian is on trial for setting fire to the occupation administration
In Russia, the trial of a Ukrainian man who died on the front lines is still ongoing. The case concerns a 2022 incident involving the arson of a building housing the occupation administration in the Zaporizhzhia region. Despite the defendant’s death, the trial in Rostov-on-Don continues.
This is reported by Mediazona
Danila Sokolov and Grigory Nikonov-Babchenko are being tried in absentia. Russian authorities accuse them of committing an “act of international terrorism.” Additionally, Sokolov is accused of involving a minor in the crime—at the time of the events, the third participant, Sergey Popov, was 17 years old.
At the hearing on May 27, the court questioned a key witness—local resident Vladimir Kovalenko. According to him, in June 2022, Sokolov called him to “watch” the arson of the “village council.” The witness stated that the defendants were sober, listened to anti-Russian songs on the way, and put on masks in front of the building.
According to the investigation, Popov removed the Russian flag from the building, and Sokolov threw a bottle containing a “Molotov cocktail” through a window. The fire did not spread inside the building—only the exterior window pane was scorched, and the flames were quickly extinguished by a security guard and a passerby. The arsonists fled shouting “Glory to Ukraine!” and “Glory to the heroes!”
Russian judicial authorities have already handed down sentences to two individuals involved in this case:
Volodymyr Kovalenko (witness) – in December 2024, he received a six-month suspended sentence under the article on “failure to report a crime” after he cooperated with the investigation and testified against others.
Sergei Popov – in January 2025, the Southern District Military Court sentenced him to 5 years and 6 months in a strict-regime penal colony for “international terrorism” and desecration of the Russian Federation’s state flag.
Officially, the whereabouts of Sokolov and Babchenko are “unknown” to the Russian court. According to the case file, Danil Sokolov’s father stated that in the fall of 2022, his son traveled to Zaporizhzhia, joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and participated in combat operations.
In January 2026, the Reni City Council in the Odesa region officially confirmed the death of Danil Sokolov. It turned out that the Ukrainian soldier had been killed in action near Pokrovsk back in February 2024 and had long been considered missing in action. His funeral has already taken place in the Odesa region, and a memorial plaque in his honor has been installed on the Walk of Fame in the city of Reni. Despite this, a Russian court continues criminal proceedings against the deceased.
As a reminder, the FSB is stepping upmilitary special operations involving Wagner Group members in Europe.
Recently, the public association BOEC reported the discovery of a facility linked to the Russian private military company “Wagner” near the village of Kladnitsa in the Pernik region of Bulgaria.
