Ukrainian Soldier Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison After Appearing in Russian Propaganda, Family Claims FSB Coercion

A Ukrainian serviceman, Vladimir Kolyada, was sentenced to eight years in prison for desertion after returning from Russian captivity and appearing in propaganda videos, according to reports from Censor.NET and Investigations.Info. His family alleges the videos were produced under duress from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Kolyada’s Capture and Return

Sergei Kolyada, the son of Vladimir Kolyada, stated his father spent nearly three years in Russian captivity. He was exchanged on February 5, 2026, but detained just weeks later on February 26. He is currently held in a pre-trial detention center in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

Desertion Charges and Court Verdict

Vladimir Kolyada, a contract soldier who served as an electric welder in a mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since December 2019, was found guilty of desertion. He reportedly left his post in Bakhmut in May 2022 without authorization while en route to Kurakhovo in the Donetsk region. The Druzhkovsky City Court of the Donetsk region sentenced him to eight years in prison in July 2024. The court noted Kolyada’s absence from hearings despite being summoned.

Appearance in Russian Propaganda

In April 2023, an interview with Kolyada appeared in Russian media. In the video, he presented himself as a “resident of Bakhmut” and made claims that Ukrainian forces allegedly attacked civilians sheltering in basements and shot evacuees assisted by the Wagner PMC.

Family Claims of FSB Coercion

Sergei Kolyada asserts his father left his unit due to his wife’s illness and their residence in Bakhmut. He claims that after Russian forces entered Bakhmut, his father and several neighbors were forcibly removed and captured. He alleges the propaganda videos featuring his father were recorded under the coercion and supervision of FSB employees, with Kolyada simply reading a pre-written script.

Appeal Planned

The family intends to appeal the court’s decision, seeking to have Kolyada’s captivity taken into consideration.