Uzbekistan Sentences Man for Fighting in Ukraine for Russia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Pap District Criminal Court of Namangan region on 12 August sentenced a 25-year-old Uzbek citizen, identified as F.A., to two years in prison for taking part in hostilities in Ukraine on the side of Russia.

The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, which provides for liability for mercenary activities. He will serve his sentence in a general-regime penal colony.

According to the case materials, F.A. left Uzbekistan for Russia in November 2021 to seek employment. In October 2023, a court in Penza sentenced him to eight years and six months in prison for illegal possession of drugs.

While serving his sentence, he was offered a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry and participation in hostilities in Ukraine. F.A. agreed and signed the contract in late July 2025.

He was assigned as a grenade launcher operator to a military unit in Kaliningrad. After completing training, he was sent to the Malynivka area of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

According to the case materials, on 2 September 2025, F.A. and seven other servicemen headed to the combat zone.

On the way, a drone attacked the vehicle in which they were traveling. F.A. suffered wounds to the left side of his abdomen and right thigh.

F.A. told the court that he lost consciousness after the explosion. He regained consciousness at a hospital in Rostov-on-Don. Doctors removed a fragment from his abdomen during surgery but did not remove the fragment lodged in his thigh.

According to the case materials, he was paid 400,000 Russian rubles to a bank card for participating in the hostilities.

After treatment, F.A. remained in the hospital until the end of September 2025 and was then transferred to a military unit in Kaliningrad, where he stayed until February 2026. After being declared unfit for military service, he was not sent back to the combat zone.

At trial, F.A. said he had initially not wanted to take part in the war. According to him, Russian servicemen approached prisoners at the penal colony and offered them the opportunity to go to the combat zone in exchange for financial payments and Russian citizenship.

F.A. claimed that prisoners who refused to participate in the war, including Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz nationals, were subjected to pressure by prison staff. He said some of them were tortured and placed in solitary confinement.

He also said prison staff told inmates that they could remain in prison for life and would receive no assistance. F.A. said he could not withstand the pressure and eventually agreed to sign a contract.

He said, however, that the actual payment was lower than what had been promised. According to him, the contract provided for a one-time payment of 1.9 million rubles and a monthly allowance of 210,000 rubles. After arriving at his place of service, he was issued a military uniform, a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a bank card, to which 400,000 rubles was credited.

From September 2025, the man underwent military training, including instruction in the use of combat weapons and protection against drone attacks. He served as a grenade launcher operator in a marine infantry unit.

In September 2025, F.A. obtained Russian citizenship.

In February 2026, a sergeant whom F.A. had met during his service told him that he could be sent back to the combat zone.

On 8 February, the man left his military unit in Kaliningrad and went to the airport. Using his Russian passport, he bought a ticket to Moscow and then contacted the Embassy of Uzbekistan.

At the diplomatic mission, F.A. filed a statement reporting the loss of his passport. On 16 February, he was issued a “Repatriation Certificate.” He said that he subsequently tore up his Russian passport and threw it away.

On 17 February, F.A. flew from Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport to Tashkent.

During the court hearing, the man fully admitted his guilt and expressed remorse. He also said that taking part in the hostilities had been a forced step for him and asked the court to take this into account when determining his sentence.

The court considered his admission of guilt, remorse and family circumstances as mitigating factors. No aggravating circumstances were established.

As a result, F.A. was sentenced to two years in prison, to be served in a general-regime penal colony.