Life Sentence Handed Down by Ukrainian Court to Colonel General Alexander Lapin
A Ukrainian court has issued a life sentence in absentia against Alexander Lapin, a colonel general in Russia's armed forces. The ruling stems from his role in directing the 2022 invasion of Ukraine's Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions. Lapin was found guilty of violating Ukraine's territorial integrity and waging an aggressive war. He is currently evading justice by remaining on Russian soil.
Lapin, formerly the commander of Russia's Central Military District, orchestrated the early weeks of the full-scale invasion, leading the assault on Ukraine's capital and surrounding areas. Prosecutors documented that between February and March 2022, he directly organized the invasion, planned and coordinated unit operations, and issued orders. Under his command, Russian forces occupied towns in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts and advanced toward Kyiv along the Dnipro River's left bank.
“It was under his command that Russian troops occupied settlements in Chernihiv and Sumy regions and pushed toward Kyiv along the left bank of the Dnipro. Their goal was to seize the Ukrainian capital, state authorities, military command structures, and establish occupation control.” — Ruslan Kravchenko
The verdict resulted from a joint effort by the Prosecutor General's Office and the SBU's investigative unit. Lapin was convicted under two articles of Ukraine's Criminal Code: encroachment on Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability, and planning, preparing, initiating, and waging an aggressive war. Because the colonel general remains in Russia, the sentence was delivered in absentia, with the prison term to begin only upon his actual apprehension.
Lapin's Actions During the War
Lapin led the "Center" group of forces, directing the offensive from Belarus and Russia toward Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions. After withdrawing from the north, his units fought in the battles for Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk. Vladimir Putin awarded Lapin the title of Hero of Russia, but in fall 2022, during Ukraine's counteroffensive in Kharkiv region, he was responsible for defending Lyman. Following the defeat at Lyman, Lapin faced criticism from Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In March 2022, while retreating from Chernihiv region, Lapin personally awarded medals to the tank regiment commanded by his son, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Lapin. In September 2025, Russian media reported that Putin had dismissed Lapin, a move confirmed by Russia's Ministry of Defense, which replaced him with Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov. Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov has suggested that ending active hostilities by November is a realistic scenario.
This ruling is part of Ukraine's broader efforts to hold military criminals accountable for aggression against the country. It also signals that Ukraine's justice system intends to actively leverage international legal mechanisms to pursue those responsible for wartime crimes. The sentence against General Lapin may serve as a warning to other military leaders involved in the conflict that their actions can be evaluated and punished not only at the national level but also on the international stage.