Russian court sentences Ukrainian citizen to 22 years in prison

A court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced captured Ukrainian citizen Roman Kliukin to 22 years in prison. Russia's Southern District Military Court convicted him on charges of espionage and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Mediazona, citing the court's press service.

Kliukin is to spend the first five years in prison, with the remainder of the sentence to be served in a maximum-security penal colony.

According to Russian investigators, Kliukin signed a contract in October 2024 with the Crimean Tatar Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, where he allegedly served as a combat medic.

The prosecution claims that in January of last year Kliukin carried out "espionage assignments" by collecting information about Russian military personnel in the Donetsk region. According to investigators, he was captured by Russian forces on March 7, 2025, in Russia's Kursk region.

The court's press release states that Kliukin admitted guilt.

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As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced two captured members of Azov Brigade to 18 years in prison, while another Ukrainian serviceman had his sentence increased to 29 years.