A Russian nuclear engineer has received an 18-year sentence at a maximum-security facility for making donations to paramilitary groups in Ukraine consisting of Russian nationals, according to a report from the Kommersant business daily on Wednesday, referencing court documentation.
Ruslan Shadiyev, who worked as a research engineer at the Russian Federal Nuclear Center (RFNC–VNIIEF) located in Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod region, was found guilty of treason and supporting terrorist activities by the Second Western District Military Court.
Investigators revealed that Shadiyev transmitted approximately 1,200 rubles (about $13) from his cryptocurrency portfolio to the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, both of which are groups comprising Russian volunteers fighting alongside Ukraine and are classified by Moscow as terrorist organizations.
Additionally, some of the donated funds were reportedly sent to Idite Lesom (“Get Lost”), a human rights organization assisting Russians in evading military service, which has been labeled as a “foreign agent” by prosecutors.
In court, Shadiyev sought leniency, expressing that he was unaware of the legal status of the groups he was supporting and believed he was helping those in need.
As reported by Kommersant, members of his family subsequently sold off property and contributed several million rubles to support Russia’s military efforts as part of an attempt to lessen the repercussions of his actions.
Nevertheless, the court dismissed his appeal and upheld the original verdict. His legal team has indicated plans to contest the ruling in the Supreme Court’s Military Collegium.
Shadiyev’s situation aligns with a broader intensification of enforcement under Russia’s treason and espionage laws following the invasion of Ukraine.
Data from the Kirill Parubets Analytical Center shows that Russian courts issued 224 verdicts related to treason or espionage in the first half of 2025, representing the highest figure in contemporary Russian history.
During that timeframe, 232 individuals were charged, resulting in nearly two convictions per working day on average. By contrast, there were 167 convictions under similar laws throughout 2023 and 143 in the first half of 2024, with every case ending in a guilty verdict and actual prison time.
