Ukrainian man receives 8½-year term in Russia under new ‘aiding the enemy’ law

In a landmark ruling, the Pskov Regional Court sentenced Ukrainian national Anton Demidenko, 26, to eight years and six months in a maximum-security penal colony for “assisting the enemy” by transferring funds to charities that back the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The court also imposed a 500,000-ruble fine and seized his mobile phone, citing its use in the alleged offense. Demidenko’s case is the first publicly identified prosecution under Article 276.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, a provision added in late 2024 that targets foreign individuals who provide financial, advisory, or other support to groups opposing Russia in armed conflict, with a minimum penalty of ten years.

Despite the statutory floor, the judge delivered a shorter term for undisclosed reasons. His arrest was initially reported in July 2025 following a custody order from the Lefortovsky District Court. The sentencing underscores Moscow’s intensified legal crackdown on cross-border assistance to Ukraine and sets a precedent for future applications of the new law.