Court Rulings Involving Military Personnel
In a case that highlights ongoing security threats within Ukraine’s armed forces, a soldier from the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been convicted of high treason. The verdict was delivered by the Prydniprovskyi District Court in Cherkasy. The serviceman, stationed at a military unit in the city, collaborated with an officer from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Between late May and early September 2025, he supplied sensitive materials including unit staffing details, combat orders, minefield maps, and screenshots from a group chat used by drone pilots. For this, he received between $3,000 and $5,000 per transaction.
The court also established that during his arrest, authorities found the psychotropic substance PVP in his possession, which he had purchased via a Telegram bot after retrieving a stash from a street in Cherkasy. The accused had gone absent without leave (AWOL) in March 2025, claiming he could not get along with the new command. He further stated that the stress of military service led to a drug addiction.
“I went AWOL and couldn’t find a job, so I accepted the offer from Russian special services to earn money for drugs,” he said during the trial.
Additional Cases and National Security Concerns
Between June and August 2025, while attending a training center for returning servicemen, the convict also disclosed the facility’s location and a fragment of a map showing the front line. The court handed down a 15-year prison sentence along with confiscation of his property.
Separately, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kharkiv sentenced a junior sergeant from the border guard service to five years in prison for failing to report to her unit after receiving orders on the first day of the full-scale invasion. In the town of Shakhtarske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, three fighters from the Da Vinci Wolves unit opened fire near a store and abducted a 20-year-old man. The court ordered them to be held in custody for 60 days without the option of bail.
These incidents underscore the serious challenges facing Ukraine’s military in terms of national security, particularly the risk of treason among service members. Military service in Ukraine continues under extreme pressure due to ongoing aggression, which can lead to stress and psychological strain among soldiers, sometimes driving them toward illegal actions. The court rulings in these cases play a key role in upholding the rule of law and deterring similar crimes in the future.
The ongoing challenges to Ukraine's national security are further underscored by another recent ruling. A junior sergeant from the border guard service has been sentenced to five years in prison for neglecting her duties on the very first day of the full-scale invasion. This case highlights the critical importance of accountability within the military as the nation navigates these turbulent times. For more details on this case and its implications, read about the sentencing of a border guard cook.