A Russian military court has sentenced soldier Roman Ivanishin to 15 years in a maximum-security prison after convicting him of desertion, attempted desertion, and voluntary surrender to Ukrainian forces—marking Russia’s first prosecution under the law introduced in September 2022 that criminalizes voluntary surrender.
The trial, held behind closed doors on the island of Sakhalin, concluded that Ivanishin had willingly given himself up to Ukrainian soldiers during combat in Donetsk in June 2023.
Following his capture, a video surfaced online in which he denounced Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and urged fellow soldiers to abandon the fight. It remains unclear whether the statements were made under duress.
Ivanishin, a former miner and Chechnya war veteran, had denied all charges. His defense team argued for acquittal, citing lack of concrete evidence.
After being returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange in January 2024, Ivanishin was immediately placed under investigation. His case marks a significant legal precedent under Russia’s wartime laws designed to deter military defection and dissent.
