Citizen of Uzbekistan sentenced to five years for involvement in Ukraine war

According to court documents, the defendant, identified as A.H., left Uzbekistan for Russia in May 2023 for temporary employment. Later that year, in November, he reportedly agreed to join Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict after signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense, seeking financial gain. The contract obligated him to one year of military service.

A.H. subsequently underwent military training at a base near the Russian-Finnish border, where he was trained in weapons handling and combat techniques alongside other recruits. In January 2024, he was transferred to a military facility in the Belgorod region for additional training before being deployed to the conflict zone in Ukraine in February.

During combat, A.H. sustained severe injuries in a drone strike, suffering trauma to his head, arm, and leg. He was transported to a military hospital in Moscow region for treatment, where he remained for a month. After recovery, he returned to Uzbekistan in July 2024.

During the trial, A.H. confessed to his actions and cooperated fully with investigators. Taking his admission and cooperation into account, the court sentenced him to five years of incarceration in a general-regime penal colony.