Russia: Resident sentenced to 16 years in prison for cooperating with Ukraine and planning attacks

A Moscow region resident has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for providing Ukraine with data on the location of a Russian military site and planning attacks, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Tuesday. Since February 2022 and the Russian assault on Ukraine, Russia has launched a major crackdown on its critics. Trials for "treason" , "terrorism" , "extremism" , "sabotage" and "espionage" have multiplied.

The man was accused of taking a photo in April 2024 of the location of an air defense system in Podolsk, about 40 km south of Moscow, and sending the images, along with geographic data , "to his Ukrainian mentors to guide a drone strike against this military site," according to a statement from the Committee.

Also read: In Russia, trials for “treason” or “espionage” are increasing

He was also accused of bringing weapons from Ukrainian territory to Russia in 2017 to prepare attacks in several Russian regions, including those of Briansk, Kursk and Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, according to the same source.

A Russian military court found him guilty of preparing an attack, arms trafficking and complicity in terrorist activities and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, the Investigative Committee said. In addition to the “treason” trials, thousands of people have been punished, threatened or imprisoned in Russia since 2022 because of their opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.