Two captured Azov fighters have been sentenced in Russia

The so-called Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced two captured fighters from the Ukrainian Azov Regiment—30-year-old Dmytro Kyshchenko and 32-year-old Vsevolod Shirokikh—to 19 and 20 years in prison, respectively. The Russian court found both Ukrainian prisoners of war guilty of allegedly participating in a terrorist group, as well as undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities. 

This was reported by the independent Russian publication Mediazona.

According to the materials of the fabricated case, the basis for criminal prosecution and sentencing was the men’s direct service in the ranks of the “Azov” unit. According to available data, Dmytro Kyshchenko served in the aforementioned regiment with the rank of senior soldier. Another convicted serviceman, Vsevolod Shirokikh, carried out combat missions as an operator in the robotic reconnaissance unit.

Relatives of the Azov Brigade servicemen appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a request to facilitate the return of Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity. According to them, more than 700 Azov fighters remain in Russian captivity.

As a reminder, three captured Azov fighters were sentenced to 20 years in prison in Russia.