‘I went to war to pay off my debts’ – Namangan resident jailed for serving in Russian army in Ukraine war

An Uzbek citizen recruited into the Russian army has been sentenced to criminal punishment. Kun.uz reviewed the court verdict.

According to the court document, Sh.M., born in 1975 and residing in Namangan, had travelled to Russia several times for work. He went to Russia on 10 April 2025. On 15 April, seeking financial gain, he signed a contract to serve in the Russian army. He was given the rank of private and assigned to work as a driver-mechanic.

On 20 April 2025, Sh.M. was taken to a military camp in Luhansk, where he underwent military training for two weeks. Starting 5 May 2025, he took part in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Just four days later, on 9 May, he was wounded in the left leg when a landmine exploded.

In court, Sh.M. fully admitted his guilt, saying he agreed to fight because he had accumulated debts.

“In 2012, I went to Russia for work and returned in 2013. On 10 November 2024, I went to the city of Ivanovo, Russia, and started working as a technician at a textile factory. On 4 April 2025, I returned home. The main reason for coming back to Uzbekistan was to tell my family that I intended to return to Russia and join the combat operations against Ukraine, and to say goodbye to my loved ones. But I did not disclose this to my family.

“On 10 April 2025, I returned to Ivanovo and went to the local military enlistment office, where I signed a one-year contract to join the Russian Armed Forces. For this, I received 1 million rubles.

“On 20 April 2025, I and other individuals who had joined the Russian Armed Forces were taken to a military camp in Markivka, Luhansk. For two weeks, military personnel trained us in firing an AK-74 and defending against enemy attacks. We were only partially instructed on the use of hand grenades and detecting anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.

“On 9 May 2025, while carrying out my duties, I stepped on a mine planted by Ukrainian forces and was wounded in my left leg. At first, I was taken to a military hospital in Luhansk. After receiving initial medical assistance, I was transferred to a military hospital in Belgorod,” he said in his court testimony.

He was treated at the hospital until 5 June. On 6 June 2025, a military medical commission declared him temporarily unfit for military service and granted him medical leave until 6 July.

“After resting for some time in Ivanovo, I realized that what I had done was wrong and decided to return to Uzbekistan. I owed around $5,000 to citizens of other countries working in Russia. They demanded repayment. Out of desperation, I wanted to repay these debts by taking part in the Russia–Ukraine war,” Sh.M. said.

He returned to Uzbekistan on 4 July 2025. He then went to the Davlatobod District Department of Internal Affairs, reported what had happened, and voluntarily handed over his contract and other documents.

By the verdict of the Pop District Criminal Court, Sh.M. was found guilty under Article 154 (mercenarism), Part 1, and Article 154-1, Part 1 (joining the military service, security, police, military justice bodies or similar agencies of a foreign state) of the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to three years and one month of imprisonment. He will serve his sentence in a general-regime colony.

Earlier, another Uzbek national who delivered food to Russian soldiers by motorcycle on the frontline was also sentenced to imprisonment.