Vitalii Panchenko

Ukrainian serviceman. On August 15, 2024, he was taken prisoner on the territory of Kursk Region. A video was posted on Ramzan Kadyrov's Telegram channel showing him and another serviceman, Ivan Dmitrakov, being interrogated by Apti Alaudinov, former commander of the Akhmat Rosgvardiya detachment and deputy head of the Main Military and Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces. Both Ukrainian servicemen have their hands wrapped in duct tape. At the same time, another video was filmed where Panchenko and Dmitrakov bound with duct tape say "Akhmat is a force!", "Allahu Akbar!" and praise Alaudinov. In September 2024, the military directorate of the Investigative Committee reported that Panchenko and Dmitrakov were charged with attempted murder, committing a terrorist act, attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer, and using violence against a representative of the authorities; Panchenko was also named as a suspect in kidnapping (three people were later reported) and looting. On 21 October 2024, it became known that Panchenko and Dmitrakov were placed in custody. In November, the case against the servicemen, which only included the article on committing a terrorist act, was brought to court. On 12 December 2024, Panchenko was sentenced to 15 years in a strict-regime penal colony.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our database of politically motivated criminal prosecutions.