Shchurov Yaroslav Aleksandrovich (Shchurov Yaroslav Oleksandrovich)

On March 11, 2025, in the Kursk region, a 54-year-old Ukrainian citizen, commander of a section of the 118th separate brigade of territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, junior sergeant Yaroslav Shchurov, was taken prisoner by Russian military personnel. He was accused of committing a terrorist act that resulted in serious consequences, as part of a group of persons by prior conspiracy. According to the Russian investigation, on the evening of August 25, 2024, Shchurov, armed with an AK-74 assault rifle with 120 rounds and two hand grenades, together with his comrades-in-arms in a UAZ 3909 vehicle, illegally crossed the state border of Russia in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region. He proceeded toward the villages of Zaoleshenka and Khutor Agronom to block and hold them. For more than six months, Shchurov, along with his comrades-in-arms, held observation and fire positions in forest belts, opposed Russian troops, intimidated the local population, prohibited civilians from evacuating, and took measures to disorganize the activities of government bodies. On February 10, 2025, he was relocated to the area of the Khutor Agronom, where he continued his activities. Before the verdict, Yaroslav Shchurov was held in custody. On October 9, 2025, the 2nd Western District Military Court found Yaroslav Shchurov guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, with the first 3 years to be served in prison, and the remainder in a strict regime correctional colony.