Mykola Lenytskyi is a political prisoner

A Ukrainian citizen from Kherson Oblast has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for publishing a video about the death of civilians in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Mykola Lenytskyi a political prisoner. Lenytskyi was convicted on a charge of ‘spreading false information about the Russian army’ for publishing a video about a bombing raid by the Russian armed forces on Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Lenytskyi’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the release of Mykola Lenytskyi and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

What were the charges against Mykola Lenytskyi?

Mykola Lenytskyi, a Ukrainian citizen from the Russian-occupied village of Velyka Lepetykha in Kherson Oblast, was charged with ‘public dissemination of information known to be false about the use of the Russian armed forces on the grounds of political hatred’ (Article 207.3, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The basis for the charge was a publication on social media of a video about a Russian army strike on a settlement in Bryansk Oblast which resulted in the death of civilians.

Furthermore, the investigative authorities claimed that Lenytskyi had repeatedly called on local residents to ignore Russian laws. He allegedly committed these ‘illegal acts’ between April 2022 and January 2025, motivated by political and national hatred.

The case was heard by a ‘court’ set up by Russia in the occupied territory of Kherson Oblast. On 11 August 2025, Lenytskyi was sentenced to seven years in a general regime penal colony. He was taken into custody in the courtroom.

Why do we consider Mykola Lenytskyi a political prisoner?

The offence of disseminating information known to be false about the Russian army, of which Lenytskyi was convicted, was adopted into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation immediately after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The new law effectively prohibits dissemination of information about the war, in violation of the right to freedom of expression. The law contradicts the Russian Constitution, making all prosecutions brought under it unlawful. This article of the Criminal Code should be rescinded, all related convictions quashed and ongoing prosecutions dropped.

The unlawfulness of Lenytskyi’s prosecution was exacerbated by the fact that he was tried in the occupied territory of Ukraine in a ‘court’ established by Russia. The application of Russian law to a Ukrainian citizen living in their own country and their conviction on a charge that has no equivalent in Ukrainian law violate the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the norms of international humanitarian law.

Criminal prosecution and prolonged imprisonment for public statements about the war that do not contain calls for violence are unlawful. Lenytskyi’s prosecution and conviction are intended to intimidate residents of the occupied territories, as well as Russian citizens who oppose Russia’s war of aggression.

A detailed description of Mykola Lenytskyi’s case and of our position is available on our website.

How can you help?

If you have information about Mykola Lenytskyi’s place of detention, please let us know by email [email protected].

You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.