Arrest: On December 27, 2023, FSB officers conducted searches in occupied Sevastopol at the homes of former Ukrainian military personnel Serhiy Lykhomanov and Ruslan Chornyi-Shvets. After the search, Serhiy Lykhomanov was taken to an unknown location, and for nearly a month, his family was not informed of his whereabouts. It was later revealed that he was held in Sevastopol's pre-trial detention centre and then transferred to Simferopol.

Sentence: On May 15, 2024, the Russia-controlled Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol sentenced Serhiy Lykhomanov to 5 years in a strict-regime colony and a fine of 50,000 rubles for allegedly illegal possession of explosives. Later, a new case was opened against him on charges of 'state treason' and 'preparation of a terrorist act'. On October 8, 2025, a Russian court issued a second sentence, assigning Serhiy Lykhomanov 15 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime colony and a fine of 50,000 rubles.

Before his arrest, Serhiy Lykhomanov lived in Sevastopol. He is a former Ukrainian military officer who remained on the peninsula after the occupation of Crimea. His military background and pro-Ukrainian civic stance may have drawn particular attention from Russian security services.

After his detention, Serhiy was initially held in Sevastopol's pre-trial detention centre and later transferred to Simferopol. According to human rights defenders, he was held in solitary confinement for some time. Relatives and lawyers repeatedly expressed concern about his health, as he already had several serious chronic illnesses requiring regular medical supervision and treatment.

The first criminal case against Lykhomanov was built by Russian security forces around accusations of allegedly illegal acquisition and storage of explosives. In May 2024, the occupation Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in a strict-regime colony with a fine.

However, the persecution did not end there. Almost immediately after the first sentence, Russian investigators opened a new criminal case. This time, Serhiy Lykhomanov was accused of 'state treason', cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine, and preparation of a terrorist act in occupied Crimea. According to Russian investigators, he allegedly collected information about the positions of Russian air defense in Sevastopol and intended to organize the bombing of a railway bridge over the Belbek River.

On October 8, 2025, a Russian court issued Serhiy Lykhomanov a second sentence. He was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime colony. According to the court's decision, part of the term must be served in prison. This decision became one of the harshest sentences imposed on Crimean political prisoners in recent years.

An ongoing issue in Serhiy Lykhomanov's case is his health. According to relatives and human rights defenders, he suffers from proctosigmoiditis, diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon, lumbar-sacral osteochondrosis with intervertebral hernias, deforming spondyloarthrosis, has a large kidney cyst, and a tumor in the elbow area. Due to inadequate medical care, his condition has repeatedly worsened. Human rights defenders reported that he has significantly lost weight, requires a special diet and regular medication, but such conditions are not provided in detention.

During his imprisonment, Serhiy Lykhomanov was repeatedly transferred between various detention centres and penal institutions. He was held in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Rostov-on-Don, and Taganrog. Human rights defenders emphasize that transfers often last for weeks, involve harsh transportation conditions, and negatively affect the physical and psychological health of detainees.

Serhiy's sister, Tetyana Zelena, has repeatedly spoken to journalists about the psychological pressure on the family and attempts by Russian security forces to use Serhiy's relatives as a tool of influence. She emphasized the need for international attention to his case and hoped that publicity would contribute to including Lykhomanov in future exchange lists.

Information sourced from: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Qirim.Media, Suspilne Crimea.

Photo: Suspilne Crimea.

Last updated: 17.07.2026.