Polish Citizen Faces 13-Year Sentence in Russian-Controlled Luhansk

A court in Russian-controlled Luhansk has sentenced a Polish citizen to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office disclosed the verdict on Thursday, noting that the individual was involved in armed conflict supporting Ukraine.

The 47-year-old Pole, identified as Krzysztof Flaczek, reportedly arrived in Ukraine in September 2024. After receiving training, he engaged in combat operations, allegedly receiving financial compensation for his involvement.

The detention occurred in November 2024, and the sentence was handed down by a court in Luhansk, a region under dispute since Moscow annexed it amid global disapproval. Russian courts have similarly sentenced other Western Europeans fighting for Ukraine.