Russia on Thursday handed a long jail term to a Siberian man accused of state treason and terrorism over plans to join Russian units fighting for Ukraine.
This is the latest arrest of Russian citizens accused of wanting to fight as part of pro-Ukrainian armed groups, which have led several deadly incursions into Russia.
The suspect "planned to take part in combat on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces," Russian state-run agency TASS quoted the FSB as saying.
Law enforcement detained the 26-year-old in the central Kemerovo region as he was making his way to Ukraine, the report said.
"He was motivated by the fact that, since the start of the operation in Ukraine, he did not support the politics of Russia's leadership," the FSB statement said.
TASS reported that he posted symbols of the Freedom of Russia Legion online — one of the anti-Kremlin Russian units fighting for Kyiv.
Moscow has banned it as a terrorist organization.
Russia regularly prosecutes people for collaborating with Ukraine.
In the southern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region occupied by Russia, Moscow-installed authorities on Thursday sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for spying for Ukraine.
TASS said he "gathered and passed information on movements and directions of Russian troops" and "collected information on industrial and energy infrastructure" in the Zaporizhzhia region.
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.
