Bukhara man sentenced to over three years for joining the Russian army in Ukraine war

Court records indicate that the individual, identified as M.B., entered military service in May 2024 after signing a one-year contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. During his service, he was deployed to Vladivostok, the Zaporizhzhia region, and Novopol, where he actively took part in the war against Ukraine. After sustaining injuries during the conflict, he returned to Uzbekistan in October 2025.

The investigation into his activities relied on several pieces of evidence, including photographs of the defendant in Russian military uniform and the official enlistment contract he signed with the Russian Ministry of Defense. In court, the defendant fully admitted his guilt and expressed remorse for his actions.

The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 and Part 1 of Article 154-1 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which penalize mercenary activity and enlistment in the military or security forces of foreign states. He was initially handed a sentence of 3 years in prison along with 2 years of correctional labor. Through the partial consolidation of these penalties, the court finalized his sentence to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment, to be served in a general-regiment colony.