Evgenii Bondarenko

According to the investigation, between 10 September 2022 and 15 March 2023, Bondarenko, who reportedly espoused right-wing radical views and supported the foreign organisation Azov — whose activities, according to Russian authorities, are aimed against the security of the Russian Federation — attempted to leave Russia for Ukraine. His alleged purpose was to join the armed forces of a foreign state directly opposing the Russian Federation, and to take part in military actions involving weapons and equipment. From 20 September 2022 to 15 March 2023, Bondarenko, described as an opponent of the Russian President’s decision to launch the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, allegedly sought to join the Ukrainian paramilitary nationalist group "Azov", which is classified as a terrorist organisation under Russian law. The authorities claim he intended to participate in combat on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) against Russian forces. He also allegedly tried to persuade his acquaintance, Nikita Tarasov, to join him. According to Tarasov, Bondarenko claimed that after the beginning of the SMO, he had received an invitation to volunteer with the Azov battalion, which was based in Poland at the time. Bondarenko reportedly told Tarasov that he planned to visit relatives in Ukraine and then join Azov, whose ideology he supported. To prepare, Bondarenko had trained at shooting ranges in 2022. He is said to have encouraged Tarasov to come with him, citing his own weapons handling experience, marksmanship, and good physical fitness. Tarasov claims he declined the offer. According to Tarasov, in early May 2022, Bondarenko travelled to Poland with the intention of joining Azov, but was unable to cross the border into Ukraine. Fearing prosecution by Russian law enforcement upon his return, Bondarenko allegedly took photographs of Polish landmarks to support a cover story about visiting the country for tourism. He reportedly told Tarasov that he had taken military gear with him but decided not to bring it back to Russia, as it could attract unwanted attention from the authorities. In the second half of May 2022, Bondarenko allegedly told Tarasov that he had made contact with Russian citizens fighting for the AFU and asked them for help in entering Ukraine to take part in the conflict. Although they were unable to assist him directly, they reportedly recorded a video featuring a man who identified himself as a veteran of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and a member of Azov. The man vouched for Bondarenko and requested help in facilitating his entry into Ukraine. Bondarenko is said to have shown this video to border guards, but was still denied entry. In a conversation in December 2022, Bondarenko allegedly told Tarasov that he was planning another attempt to leave Russia and join the AFU. He claimed to have an acquaintance with ties to Azov’s leadership and once again invited Tarasov to join him, but Tarasov reportedly refused. On 12 January 2023, Bondarenko travelled to Georgia in a renewed attempt to reach Ukraine. However, his contact, who was said to know a route into Ukraine, was detained. Bondarenko returned to Russia on 23 January to search for another way to cross the border. He reportedly found a representative of Azov via Telegram and began corresponding with him. However, on 15 March 2023, Bondarenko was detained by Russian authorities.