Yurii Makarenko
Yurii Makarenko, born 1992. Charges: Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a terrorist community); “Ukrainian servicemen's case of participation in the Donbass-Ukraine battalion”. Sentence (February 11, 2025): 5 years and 8 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since July 9, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 14, Arkhangelsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 26, 2025.
In brief
Military personnel · Terrorism cases
Sentence
5 years 8 months
5 years and 8 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld July 9, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in a terrorist community
Full wording of the charges
According to investigators, from February to March 2022, while serving with the 46th Separate Assault Battalion "Donbass-Ukraine" of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he participated in combat operations against civilians and DPR military personnel. "While in the temporarily occupied territory of the DPR in the village of Stepnoye, Volnovakha District, and in Volnovakha, he fired towards the positions of DPR People's Militia personnel".
Latest event
November 26, 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, November 26, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 8 months
· Persecution begins
Ukrainian servicemen's case of participation in the Donbass-Ukraine battalion
Criminal case
Ukrainian servicemen's case of participation in the Donbass-Ukraine battalion
Other defendants in the case
- Ivan Bezlepkin — Imprisoned, 5 years 10 months
- Gleb Petruk — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Vladimir Puzanov — Imprisoned, 5 years 8 months
- Dmitrii Reivakh — Imprisoned, 6 years
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 14, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
165115, Архангельская область, Вельский район, д. Горка-Муравьёвская, Спецгородок д.1 «А», ФКУ «ИК № 14 УФСИН России по Архангельской области», Макаренко Юрий Юрьевич, 1992 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A Ukrainian serviceman and driver in an assault brigade. He was detained in March 2022 by the people's militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Makarenko was taken into custody on charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization: according to investigators, he participated in military operations against civilians and DPR servicemen as part of the Donbass-Ukraine Battalion. On February 11, 2025, Makarenko was sentenced to five years and eight months in a general regime penal colony.
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.