Detention: In August 2025, the occupation 'law enforcement agencies' of Sevastopol detained 45-year-old local resident Serhii Bondarashyk. He was accused of 'state treason' for allegedly transmitting information and photographs of Russian military equipment locations to Ukrainian intelligence services.

Sentence: On August 22, 2025, the occupation Sevastopol City Court sentenced Serhii Bondarashyk to 14 years in a high-security penal colony, 1 year of restricted freedom after release, and a fine of 200,000 Russian rubles. The sentence has not yet come into force, and an appeal is ongoing.

Serhii Bondarashyk was born on October 13, 1978. Before his detention, he lived in Sevastopol. There is no detailed information available in open sources about his education, professional activities, family status, or biography prior to the criminal prosecution.

The case of Serhii Bondarashyk became known in 2024 when the occupation law enforcement agencies announced the completion of the pre-trial investigation and the transfer of materials to the so-called Sevastopol City Court. The Russian side charged him with state treason under Article 275 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code.

According to the Russian investigation, from January to October 2023, Serhii Bondarashyk allegedly transmitted photographs and information about the locations of Russian military units, air defense systems, and other military objects in the temporarily occupied Crimea to Ukrainian intelligence via the Telegram messenger. These claims have not been independently verified, and the case materials remain closed to the public.

After his detention, Serhii Bondarashyk was placed in custody. There is virtually no information in open sources about his detention conditions, health status, or potential rights violations during the investigation. Human rights advocates emphasize that in cases of so-called 'state treason,' Russian courts typically hold closed sessions, and access to criminal proceedings is significantly restricted. This makes independent monitoring of the right to a fair trial impossible.

On August 22, 2025, the occupation court found Serhii Bondarashyk guilty and imposed a sentence of 14 years in a high-security penal colony, one year of restricted freedom after serving the main sentence, and a fine of 200,000 rubles. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' included him in the list of individuals whose criminal prosecution shows signs of political motivation and significant violations of the right to a fair trial.

As of July 17, 2026, Serhii Bondarashyk remains in custody. There is no information in open sources about the results of the appeal review of the sentence or the location of his further imprisonment.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial'.

Update date: 17.07.2026.