The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Garrison Military Court sentenced soldier Roman Ivanishin to 15 years in a high-security penal colony in a case of voluntarily surrendering to Ukrainian captivity, another attempt to surrender, and desertion, writes «Kommersant». Ivanishin was also stripped of his rank of junior sergeant.
The prosecution requested 16 years of imprisonment for the soldier. The defendant did not plead guilty. The trial was held in closed session.
Ivanishin joined the army during mobilization, serving in the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade. In June 2023, he was captured by Ukrainians near the village of Stepnoye in the Donetsk region and returned to Russia in early January 2024 as part of an exchange, after which he was under investigation.
According to the prosecution, Ivanishin attempted to surrender to Ukrainian captivity twice. Ivanishin's commander, Major Vadim Korotkevich, claimed in a video published on the channel «Sakhalin Against War» that after surrendering, his subordinate left Ukrainian positions and shouted to his comrades: «Surrender, nothing will happen to you!» According to the officer, he ordered to open fire on Ivanishin. The Ukrainians returned fire, killing two Russian soldiers.
According to «Kommersant», Ivanishin was also charged with a video recorded in captivity, in which he «spoke out against the special military operation, urging other servicemen to escape».
The case against Ivanishin became the first known case of voluntary surrender to captivity initiated against a Russian soldier.