Ignatenko Vera Ilinichna

18-year-old Vera Ignatenko and her 39-year-old friend Marina Voronova were detained in St. Petersburg on June 18, 2023. Vera was accused of preparing for murder and public calls for terrorism. Voronova was charged with incitement and complicity in attempted murder for mercenary motives or for hire. According to the investigation, Marina Voronova wanted to kill her ex-husband and turned to Ignatenko for help—together they decided to poison the man. According to reports, Ignatenko traveled to Petrozavodsk to obtain a liquid containing nicotine, and then prepared a poisonous mixture that the girls planned to apply to the man's clothing and add to his food. Ignatenko was detained by police when she arrived at the house of her friend's ex-husband, having with her "a lethal mixture of at least 125 ml, gloves, a syringe, and a change of clothes. The reason for Ignatenko's accusation of calling for terrorism was the administration of a certain "group in the messenger", where the girl allegedly called for terrorism. Both defendants in the case were placed in a pre-trial detention center. Later, the charges against Vera Ignatenko were toughened — the article on treason was added. The details of the charges are unknown. The case was initiated in the Republic of Karelia, where the girl went to get the poisonous liquid, and was separated into a separate production. According to another political prisoner Olga Smirnova, who crossed paths with Ignatenko in the pre-trial detention center of St. Petersburg, Vera ran an opposition Telegram channel and sent some file to an email, which turned out to be a provocation." As for the charge of attempted murder, according to Smirnova's testimony, the girl falsely accused herself under pressure. On December 4, 2024, the 1st Western District Military Court found Vera Ignatenko guilty in the attempted murder case and calls for terrorism, sentencing her to 5 years in a general regime penal colony. On April 21, 2025, the Appellate Military Court changed the verdict, details are unknown, however, the girl was released on her own recognizance not to leave in the courtroom. On October 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Karelia found Vera Ignatenko guilty of high treason and sentenced her to 12.5 years in a general regime colony. She was again taken into custody in the courtroom.