In the three years since the annexation of parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, courts established by the occupying Russian authorities have issued at least 190 sentences for 'treason', 'espionage', and 'confidential cooperation' with foreigners, according to calculations by 'Important Stories'*. Before the war, no more than 16 people were convicted annually in Russia on such charges. From the beginning of the war until July 2025, courts in Russia and the occupied territories convicted 774 people on three counts.
As noted by the publication, the number of sentences is rapidly increasing, with sentences on these charges being issued every three days from July to September.
Two-thirds of the sentences are under the article on espionage, under which foreigners and stateless persons are tried in Russia. That is, the convicted had Ukrainian citizenship and did not receive Russian passports. However, in the past year, the number of sentences under the article on treason, for which Russian citizens are tried, has been increasing.
At the same time, those who have dual citizenship are sometimes tried under both articles—espionage and treason.
Sentences for 'espionage' and 'treason' in the occupied territories are given to people who were kidnapped months, and sometimes years, before charges were filed. Kidnappings are one of the ways to pressure residents who disagree with the occupation.
The average sentence issued is 13.5 years, with life sentences given at least twice.
28% of those convicted are women. At least 8 of those sentenced are teenagers.
At least 5 of those kidnapped have died. Journalists note that the actual number of deaths could be much higher. Kidnapped residents of the occupied territories spend long periods in unofficial detention places, in so-called 'basements', without formal charges. People are held in harsh conditions and subjected to torture, which not everyone survives. If a person dies at this stage, their death is usually not officially documented, said human rights activist Yevgeny Smirnov of the 'First Department'**.
As noted by 'Important Stories', the total number of those convicted is much higher. Some civilians are tried under other articles, such as for 'organizing a terrorist community' and 'participation' in it. Such cases are often considered by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Cases of many kidnapped individuals are considered by Russian or Crimean courts.
In total, the 'Memorial'** database contains information on 654 peaceful Ukrainians who were persecuted in the occupied territories or in Russia after the start of the full-scale war. For 355 of them, the persecution began in territories occupied after 2022, and 66 of them have not yet been charged.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable' organization.
** Recognized in Russia as 'foreign agents'.