Russian Developer Sentenced to 15 Years for Supporting Ukraine

A Russian software developer was sentenced to 15 years in prison after donating around $500 to the Ukrainian Defense Fund, according to reports. Sergei Ilin, 45, a former employee of the prominent tech company Yandex, appeared in a Moscow court where he reportedly refused to stand during the proceedings and displayed a sign reading “Putin is s–head.”

Ilin was arrested on charges of treason. During his hearing, the prosecution characterized his donation as an act of “destruction.” The circumstances surrounding his prison arrangement remain unclear—it’s uncertain if his actions in court or the donation itself influenced the ruling.

Footage showed Ilin being tackled and handcuffed by officers, and he was later interrogated. Interestingly, Ilin had reportedly returned briefly to see his mother after fleeing Russia for a day.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ilin admitted to funding the Ukrainian charity Kam Alive on February 27, 2022. He also expressed his negative views toward Putin’s regime and mentioned attending opposition rallies.

As part of his sentence, a fine of roughly $62,000 was also imposed. There is no information yet on which high-security facility he will ultimately be assigned to serve his sentence.