On August 7, the criminal court of Yangiaryk district (Khorezm region) in Uzbekistan heard the case of citizen Z.Yu., who fought on the Russian side in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to court documents, Z.Yu. was detained by law enforcement in May 2025 in Ufa, Russia, for a previous hooliganism offense and placed in a temporary detention facility.
Subsequently, he planned to evade criminal liability and, seeking material and other benefits, to enlist under contract with the Russian Armed Forces and participate in the war against Ukraine. In July 2025, he signed a contract with a military unit of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Ufa and was recruited. He was provided with a combat rifle, ammunition, and protective gear for participation in the "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Z.Yu. traveled to Mariupol, Donetsk region, where he underwent military combat training. He was trained in the use of rifles, grenades, grenade launchers, pistols, live firing, grenade throwing, and first aid. From August 2025 to January 2026, he participated in the war as part of a Russian military unit.
In court, Z.Yu. fully confessed. He stated that on May 30, 2025, while traveling to Kazan, he was stopped by Russian police, and a background check revealed a 2014 hooliganism offense, leading to his detention. "They kept me in a cell for three weeks, then took me to a military unit," he said. He and others were transported by train to Rostov and then to Sevastopol.
At the military unit, they were issued helmets, body armor, AK-12 rifles, and ammunition. "We underwent military training for 18 hours a day. Because of the harsh conditions, some couldn't endure and shot themselves," the defendant recounted. After about three weeks, they were divided into brigades and sent to Mariupol.
In Mariupol, after two weeks of training, they were stationed in basements near the village of Maliyevka. Z.Yu. said they were armed with AK-74 rifles, 16 loaded magazines, helmets, and body armor. Following the capture of Maliyevka, he was awarded the "Za shturm" medal. He was then transferred to the 155th brigade, where he learned to operate drones.
Z.Yu. participated in battles for the town of Sofiyevka, operating a Mavic 3T drone at night. He also shot down one enemy FPV drone and took part in downing a "Baba Yaga" drone, for which he received the "Za razvedku" medal. He claimed to have received 200,000 rubles monthly, but commanders took 100,000, and 50,000 went to materials and fuel.
In January 2026, he was granted two weeks of leave and permission to leave Russia. He received certificates for 1.5 million rubles and a land plot in Ufa. Z.Yu. flew from Sochi to Ufa, then returned to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. In February 2026, he voluntarily told a local police officer about his participation in the war.
The court found Z.Yu. guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (Mercenarism) and, applying Article 57 (Imposition of a lighter sentence), sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment in a general-regime colony. He was acquitted under Article 223, Part 2, points "b" and "c" (Illegal departure from Uzbekistan), as no crime was found in his actions.
Source: www.gazeta.uz