In Moscow, a mercenary from the UK was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in absentia, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said.
The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced Liam O'Connor, a 26-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in a criminal case. He was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict), Article 317 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (encroachment on the life of a serviceman), Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal crossing of the State border of the Russian Federation), part 3 of Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (smuggling of firearms and ammunition), paragraph. "a", "b", part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (terrorist act), part 4 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal arms trafficking).
From December 2023 to May 2026, O'Connor participated in the armed conflict on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the "International Legion". Having firearms and ammunition illegally transported across the border, he took part in military operations against the servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kursk region.
In May 2025, O'Connor, while on the territory of the DPR, committed the murder of a serviceman of the Armed Forces The Russian Federation in order to impede legitimate activities to ensure public safety.
In total, the mercenary received a reward of 5 million rubles for his criminal actions.
A preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen against him in absentia.
Taking into account the position of the public prosecutor, the court sentenced O'Connor to 29 years in prison with serving the first 8 years in prison, and the rest of the sentence in a high—security penal colony with a fine of 2 million rubles. In addition, the money received as a reward in the amount of more than 5 million rubles was confiscated and the claim of the mother of the deceased serviceman in the amount of 10 million rubles was satisfied.