A military court in Russia’s Far East has handed down the country’s first prison sentence for voluntary surrender to the Ukrainian army, the Kommersant business newspaper reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the case.
Junior Sergeant Roman Ivanishin was stripped of his rank and found guilty of desertion and two attempts to surrender.
Kommersant previously reported that Ivanishin was captured in eastern Ukraine in June 2023 and returned to Russia in January 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange broked by the United Arab Emirates.
Following his return, he was sent to his motorized infantry brigade’s base in the Sakhalin region, where he was placed under arrest.
Ivanishin’s trial, which began March 17, was held behind closed doors and little information about the case has been made public.
On Monday, a military court in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk sentenced Ivanishin to 15 years in prison, Kommersant reported. Prosecutors had requested a 16-year sentence.
Ivanishin pleaded not guilty.
Russia passed legislation in late 2022 that toughened penalties for voluntary surrender, desertion and refusal to serve. Wartime conditions, mobilization and martial law are considered aggravating factors, allowing for harsher sentences.
President Vladimir Putin announced a partial troop mobilization in September 2022, several months into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It has not been formally lifted.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
