Citizen injured in Ukraine conflict sentenced to prison in Uzbekistan

A resident of Yangiyul city in Tashkent region has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison for participating in the conflict in Ukraine and cultivating drugs at home, according to court documents reviewed by QALAMPIR.UZ.

The case details reveal that between mid-September 2022 and mid-March 2023, the individual traveled to Khutor Molkin, Russia, for recruitment and signed a contract with the Russian private military company Wagner. He received combat training in firearms and militant camps, and was financially compensated for participating in several armed operations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite not being a Russian citizen or military serviceman.

During one battle, he sustained serious injuries from grenade fragments and was evacuated to hospitals in Donbass and Moscow. Following his recovery, he returned to Uzbekistan in March 2023.

After returning, he continued criminal activities. In February 2025, a special operation uncovered 9.74 grams of marijuana in his home, which he claimed was for personal use.

He was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 (recruitment) and Part 1 of Article 276 (illegal production, possession, or storage of narcotics without intent to traffic) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan and sentenced accordingly.

Previously, a 20-year-old Uzbek citizen who participated in military actions against Ukraine as part of Russian forces was sentenced to four years of restricted liberty.