Volichenko Nazar Nikolaevich (Volichenko Nazar Mikolayovich)

On November 23, 2024, in the Kursk Region, during combat operations, Ukrainian citizens were taken prisoner by Russian forces: Nazar Volichenko, a rifleman with the Operational Purpose Battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard, and Oleksandr Mikharevych, a rifleman with the 129th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A criminal case was opened against them for committing a terrorist act by a group of individuals acting in concert, which resulted in significant damage.

According to the Russian investigation, in November 2024, Volichenko and Mikharevich, armed with assault rifles and grenades, as part of Ukrainian units traveling in “Kazak” armored personnel carriers, illegally invaded the territory of the Sudzha District in the Kursk Region with the aim of carrying out a terrorist attack in the village of Plyekhovo. From their established firing positions, they “conducted reconnaissance on Russian military personnel, opened fire on military personnel and civilians, and intimidated the local population while obstructing its evacuation.”

On July 22, 2025, the 2nd Western District Military Court found the defendants guilty and sentenced Nazar Volichenko to 15 years’ imprisonment and Alexander Mikharevich to 16 years, of which they must serve the first 3 years in prison and the remainder in a maximum-security penal colony. The verdict was not appealed and has become final.