Sadkov Ilya Sergeevich

In Murmansk, on the night of 23 February 2023, a military recruitment office at 53 Orlikovaya Street was set on fire. Unknown individuals threw a bottle with an incendiary mixture through the window; the fire spread over 0.5 square meters, and the window frame was burned. No one was injured.

In early March 2023, 28-year-old local resident Ilya Sadkov was detained on suspicion of arson. During the arrest, he was beaten, but his injuries were recorded as sustained while resisting arrest. During interrogation, Sadkov pleaded guilty and stated that his intent to burn down the military recruitment office was formed independently, due to a personal desire to obstruct the Russian army.

After Sadkov's arrest, the investigator ordered an expert analysis of recordings of private conversations between Sadkov and his friend, 28-year-old Aleksandr Levadny. Experts concluded that it was Levadny who persuaded his friend to commit the arson. The wiretaps consist of fragments no longer than three seconds, which do not provide the full context of the conversation.

Levadny was detained on 2 March 2023, but was only formally arrested on 4 March. Before his arrest, the man was tortured with electricity. His injuries were recorded as resulting from a fall.

Levadny was charged with treason and incitement to terrorism, while Sadkov was charged with terrorism causing significant property damage and drug possession. The charges against Levadny under the treason article are based on wiretaps of his phone conversations with a friend in Ukraine fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Both men were remanded in custody during the investigation.

On 5 April 2024, the Northern Fleet Military Court found the defendants guilty and sentenced Aleksandr Levadny to 17 years in prison, and Ilya Sadkov to 14 years. Both men will spend the first three years in a prison facility, and the remainder in a maximum-security penal colony.

On 12 August 2024, the Appellate Military Court upheld the verdict.