In Russia, a criminal prosecution has been launched against a serviceman who has been charged with treason. As it became known, the man, who had previously participated in a special military operation (SMO), was captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during combat operations, after which he decided to go over to the enemy side. However, his service in the ranks of the Ukrainian army was short-lived: after several days of fighting, he was wounded and captured again, but this time by Russian troops. Now he faces a severe punishment - up to 20 years in prison.

According to information received from the Telegram channel "Baza", the story began in June 2022, when a 51-year-old man, provisionally named Sergei, decided to join the SVO while in prison. He signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and was sent to an assault company as an operator. A year later, in June 2023, Sergei found himself on the front lines in the Yasinovataya district of the DPR. However, after a few days in the positions, he was captured by the Ukrainian military, who took him to the city of Pokrovsk.

The investigation claims that, after being captured, Sergei made a conscious decision to cooperate with the enemy. He underwent training in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, received a military uniform and weapons, after which he was enlisted in the assault unit of the Ukrainian army. On July 29, 2023, the man again found himself on the front line, but this time as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His "career" on the enemy side was short: on August 9, he was wounded in the leg during hostilities and captured by Russian servicemen. After receiving medical assistance, Sergei was detained, and a criminal case was opened against him under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("High Treason"), which provides for punishment of up to life imprisonment, according to the amendments tightened in 2023.

According to the Supreme Court of Russia, voluntary surrender and subsequent participation in military operations against the Russian Federation are classified as treason if the serviceman had the opportunity to resist. In this case, the investigation probably considered Sergei's actions to be conscious and purposeful, which led to serious charges.

According to RBC, in 2023, the FSB recorded a surge in criminal cases of treason: in the first eight months of the year alone, several dozen cases related to cooperation with Ukraine were opened. For example, in April 2023, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced Russian citizen Yevgeny Nikiforov to 6,5 years in prison for attempting to defect to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and in June of the same year, Yaroslav Vladyko was sentenced to 10 years for intending to join the Right Sector organization, which is banned in Russia (recognized as terrorist). These cases demonstrate that the Russian authorities are harshly suppressing any attempts to defect to the enemy.