Uzbek migrant sentenced to 4 years for fighting with Russian army in Ukraine

September 11, 2026 at 07:55 PM2 min

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A 29-year-old Uzbek man, Z.T., was sentenced to 4 years of restricted freedom by the Kuvasoy city court for mercenary activity under Article 154 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code. He had been recruited in Russia under the promise of construction work but was instead sent to fight near Sudzha in Kursk Oblast. He lost toes to a mine explosion in December 2024 and returned to Uzbekistan in April 2026.

Key Facts

Z.T., 29, was convicted under Article 154 Part 1 (mercenary activity) of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code and sentenced to 4 years of restricted freedom.
He was recruited in Moscow in 2024 while serving a 1.5-year prison sentence for driving without documents, with a promise that his sentence would be waived in exchange for construction work in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
About 500 migrants were taken near Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, and made to sign contracts to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war instead of construction work.
On December 25, 2024, Z.T. stepped on a buried mine while evacuating wounded soldiers and lost the toes of his right foot.
He returned to Uzbekistan on April 30, 2026, with a return certificate after reporting his passport lost at the Uzbek embassy in Moscow.

Recruitment and Deception

Z.T. had been working seasonally in Russia since 2019 and moved to Moscow in spring 2023 at a neighbor's invitation, working as a delivery driver. In June 2024, he was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for driving without documents. While serving his sentence, he was offered work on construction sites in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, with a promise that his sentence would be waived. He accepted the offer but was instead taken to the front line, where he was made to sign a contract to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Combat Service and Injury

Z.T. served as an ordinary soldier in a group that evacuated wounded and dead soldiers from the battlefield under the call sign 'Piton'. On December 25, 2024, while evacuating wounded soldiers with four comrades, he stepped on a buried mine, which exploded and severed the toes of his right foot. He was sent to a military hospital, where he was treated for seven months. During his treatment, he was granted Russian citizenship, awarded a medal, and provided with a prosthetic leg.

Return and Sentencing

In April 2026, Z.T. went to the Uzbek embassy in Moscow and reported that he had lost his passport. He returned to Uzbekistan on April 30, 2026, using a return certificate. The Kuvasoy city court found him guilty of mercenary activity under Article 154 Part 1 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 4 years of restricted freedom, applying Article 57.