Serhii Kukushkin — a Ukrainian citizen and serviceman of the Azov Special Operations Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, holding the rank of sergeant. He was captured in Mariupol in May 2022.
In March 2026, Kukushkin’s case was transferred to the Southern District Military Court. On April 16, 2026, Judge Igor Degtyaryov found Kukushkin guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.4 of the Russian Criminal Code (“Participation in the activities of a terrorist community”) and Article 205.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (“Undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities”) and sentenced him to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony.
According to the prosecution, “in the summer of 2020, Kukushkin voluntarily joined the Azov Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, underwent training in the village of Urzuf for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities, acquired knowledge and practical skills during physical and psychological training, and learned how to handle weapons and explosive devices, with the intention of subsequently using the skills he had acquired in combat operations against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the civilian population. After that, as a member of a weapons crew, he took part in armed attacks on populated areas, shelling of residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, locations of DPR servicemen, as well as the civilian population.”
