Roman Ivanishin
Roman Ivanishin, born 1982, Sakhalin Oblast. Charges: Article 338, Russian Criminal Code (Desertion); Article 352.1, Russian Criminal Code (Voluntary surrender); Article 352.1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Preparation for voluntary surrender); “The case of Roman Ivanishin on voluntary surrender”. Sentence (April 15, 2025): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since June 11, 2025. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 8, 2025.
In brief
Sakhalin Oblast · Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk · Military personnel · Anti-war cases
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 338, Russian Criminal Code — Desertion.
- Article 352.1, Russian Criminal Code — Voluntary surrender
- Article 352.1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Preparation for voluntary surrender
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he tried to surrender to Ukrainian captivity twice. The second time - successful - he escaped from the location of the military unit. Ivanishin's commander Major Vadym Korotkevich claimed that after surrendering, his subordinate came out of the Ukrainian positions and shouted to his fellow soldiers: "Surrender, nothing will happen to you for this!" According to the officer, he ordered to open fire on Ivanishin. The Ukrainians began firing back and killed two Russian soldiers. "Kommersant" wrote that Ivanishin was also charged with a video recorded in captivity in which he "spoke out against the SVO, calling on other servicemen to escape".
Latest event
July 8, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 8, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Persecution begins
The case of Roman Ivanishin on voluntary surrender
Criminal case
The case of Roman Ivanishin on voluntary surrender
Thematic group: Anti-war case
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Details and sources
Full summary
Military servant who lived on Sakhalin and worked as a mining foreman. He was mobilized. After serving in Sakhalin, he was sent to Donetsk region—the Ukrainian region occupied by Russian troops. In June 2023, he was captured by the Ukrainian military. In January 2024, he was handed over to the Russian Federation as part of an exchange. After that, a case of voluntary surrender, preparation for voluntary surrender and desertion was brought against him. On September 16, 2024, the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Garrison Court redirected the case to the jurisdiction. However, in March 2025, the case was again brought before the same court. On April 15, 2025, this court sentenced Ivanishin to 15 years in a strict regime colony, reclassifying three of the four desertion episodes as AWOL.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 338, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.