A court in southern Russia has convicted 15 captured Ukrainian soldiers on terrorism charges, following a trial that Ukraine condemned as a sham and a violation of international law. The military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced these soldiers, all members of the Aidar battalion, to prison terms ranging from 15 to 21 years. This trial represents the second mass conviction of Ukrainian prisoners of war since March 2023, when 23 members of the elite Azov brigade were also found guilty under similar accusations, drawing significant criticism from Ukraine and human rights advocates.
The commencement of the trial against the Aidar members was met with strong denunciation from Ukraine's human rights envoy, Dmytro Lubinets, who described the proceedings as “shameful.” He stated that Russia is unfairly criminalizing those who have defended their homeland amid the ongoing conflict. Memorial, a prominent Russian human rights organization, has categorized the defendants as political prisoners, asserting that the trial contravened international conventions that protect prisoners of war. They emphasized that the soldiers faced prosecution not due to specific war crimes, but simply for their service in the Aidar battalion.
Memorial reiterated that the trial's proceedings grossly violate the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the prosecution of prisoners of war solely for their engagement in armed conflict. Russia's designation of Aidar and the Azov battalion as terrorist organizations carries weight, as the country has accused their members of committing war crimes. These volunteer military units were established in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and were actively involved in combat against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Subsequently, both Aidar and Azov units were integrated into the Ukrainian military framework.
Initially, the trial included 18 members of the Aidar battalion. Among them, two nurses associated with the battalion went on trial but were returned to Ukraine through a prisoner exchange. Additionally, a driver serving in the battalion is set to face separate legal proceedings. The military court sessions took place in Rostov-on-Don, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, within Russia's Southern Military District.
While much of the trial was conducted behind closed doors, journalists were permitted to attend the opening sessions and coverage of the verdict announcement. The Russian government's actions and the subsequent legal proceedings against these soldiers continue to escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with international observers closely monitoring the situation.
