“117 of my comrades were killed in the counteroffensive.” In Fergana, the freedom of a 25-year-old young man who participated in the Russia-Ukraine war was restricted for 3 years

“117 of my comrades died in the counter-offensive.” A 25-year-old man who participated in the Russia-Ukraine war was sentenced to 3 years of restricted freedom in Fergana

On August 25, the Quva District Criminal Court (Fergana Region) reviewed a criminal case against R.B., a 25-year-old citizen who fought on the Russian side in the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to court documents, R.B. went to Russia on November 4, 2023, to work. While working there, motivated by material interest, he signed a contract to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

R.B. entered the service of the Russian Armed Forces on February 23, 2024. After undergoing military training in late February and early March, he was sent on March 10 to participate in combat operations in the Luhansk region of Ukraine.

He participated in battles as part of an infantry unit of 130 people. On April 15, he sustained an injury to his right arm as a result of a Ukrainian army drone attack and was treated in an infirmary (internal hospital) for two weeks.

Starting from April 30, R.B. was sent back to combat operations and participated in battles as part of a defense group until the autumn of 2024.

The forensic medical examination report noted the presence of scars on R.B.’s right shoulder and right elbow joint. It was stated that the injuries could have been caused by an explosion and fragments released from an explosive device.

“I was in a difficult financial situation, I had debts”

The defendant R.B. pleaded guilty in court. According to him, he went to Russia to work on November 4, 2023, and worked in a gravestone manufacturing workshop.

At the end of December 2023, he went to his father in the city of Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, to work. There, he heard that his acquaintance, N. Malikhov, a citizen of Belarus, had signed a contract on behalf of the Russian Armed Forces to participate in the combat operations between Russia and Ukraine.

According to R.B., because he was also in a difficult financial situation and had debts, he decided to participate in combat operations in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces.

On February 23, 2024, he signed a contract to serve in the Russian Armed Forces to participate in combat operations. He underwent military training in late February and early March.

“117 of my comrades died as a result of the counter-offensive”

R.B. said he was sent to participate in battles in the Luhansk region on March 10, 2024. On the first day, he participated in battles with the help of military equipment.

Then he entered the battlefield as part of an infantry unit of 130 people. According to the defendant's testimony, 117 of his comrades died as a result of the Ukrainian army's counter-offensives.

“We entered the battlefield with a force of 130 people. As a result of the Ukrainian army's counter-offensives, 117 of my comrades died. Myself and 12 of my comrades returned alive from the place where the armed clashes occurred,” the defendant said.

After that, R.B. rested for three days and participated in combat operations in another direction as part of an infantry unit of 48 people.

“Despite being injured, I participated in the battles”

On April 15, 2024, R.B. sustained an injury to his right arm as a result of a Ukrainian army drone attack. He was treated in an internal hospital for two weeks.

On April 30, 2024, he was sent back to participate in combat operations. According to R.B., despite being wounded in his leg by a shell strike during the battles, he participated in combat operations as part of a defense group until the autumn of 2024.

“Diagnosed with destruction of the pelvic bones of both legs”

In September 2024, R.B. went to a military hospital in Moscow for a medical examination. He was diagnosed with “destruction of the pelvic bones of both legs” and scheduled for surgery.

After that, he returned to the military unit and engaged in administrative and headquarters work. On April 16, 2025, he underwent surgery on the pelvic bone of his left leg at a military hospital in Moscow.

R.B. was treated for two months on temporary medical leave and returned to the military unit in June 2025. On July 17, he was discharged from the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces due to the expiration of his contract.

“They did not operate on my second leg because I am not a Russian citizen”

R.B. came to Moscow and waited for the scheduled surgery on his second leg. He lived in a rented apartment with his mother and sister. However, because he was not a Russian citizen, the surgery was not performed.

Since his Uzbek citizen passport and international passport were lost, he applied to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow. Through the embassy, a “Certificate of Return to the Homeland” was prepared for him on May 1, 2026, and he returned to Uzbekistan on May 11.

“I voluntarily submitted the military service documents to the investigation”

On May 20, 2026, internal affairs officers summoned R.B. and conducted an interview. He provided information about the events that took place and voluntarily submitted the military service documents in his possession.

In particular, he handed over a military ID, a personal digital identification tag, a contract on military service, a military certificate of the Russian Armed Forces, an extract from the combat operations log, medical epicrises from the military hospital, the conclusion of the military medical commission, and other documents.

In court, R.B. expressed sincere regret for his actions and asked the court for leniency.

In determining the sentence, the court took into account R.B.’s admission of guilt, his sincere remorse for his actions, his active assistance in solving the crime, the fact that he had no prior convictions, and his family circumstances as mitigating factors. No aggravating circumstances were identified.

The court found R.B. guilty of committing the crime stipulated in Article 154, Part 1 (Mercenarism) of the Criminal Code. Applying Article 57 (Imposition of a lighter sentence) of the Criminal Code, he was sentenced to 3 years of restricted freedom.

According to the sentence, R.B. is restricted from leaving his place of residence during working hours, as well as during the time necessary to travel to and return from his workplace. He was also ordered not to change his place of residence during the period of serving the sentence without the consent of the supervisory body. Supervision of the execution of the sentence was assigned to the Probation Unit of the Quva District Department of Internal Affairs.