Russia charges Ukraine’s former intelligence chief in absentia

Russia has charged Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office and former chief of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, in absentia with using prohibited methods of warfare, RIA Novosti reports.

The report said the offence carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years for the mistreatment of prisoners of war or civilians, deportation of civilians, looting of national property in occupied territory, or the use in armed conflicts of means and methods prohibited by an international treaty to which Russia is a party.

In April 2023, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court ordered Budanov’s arrest in absentia on charges of organising terrorist attacks in Russia, and he was placed on an international wanted list. The Federal Security Service (FSB) had previously accused him of organising the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge.

In late 2023, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court issued another warrant for the former Defence Intelligence chief’s arrest in absentia, accusing him of committing 104 offences under the Criminal Code article on terrorist acts.

Russia’s Investigative Committee charged Budanov, Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk and Serhii Burdenyuk, commander of the 383rd Separate Regiment of Remotely Piloted Aircraft of the Air Force, in absentia with terrorism over their alleged involvement in more than 100 drone strikes on Russian territory.

In 2026, Russian investigators said they had established the involvement of three Ukrainian commanders, including Budanov, in a New Year’s Eve strike on a restaurant in Kherson region. They were charged in absentia with committing a terrorist act.

Budanov is listed by Russia as a terrorist and extremist.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov