Maksim Rupchev
Maksim Rupchev, born 2000, Occupied territory of Zaporizka oblast. Charges: Article 205 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Terrorist attack (by a group or with serious consequences)); Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a terrorist community); Article 276, Russian Criminal Code (Transferring, collecting, stealing, or storing information classified as state secret with the…); “Maksim Rupchev's case”. Sentence (November 13, 2025): 15 years' imprisonment, with the first 3 years to be served in prison and the remainder of the sentence in a… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 1, 2023; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 2, Rostov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 5, 2026.
In brief
Occupied territory of Zaporizka oblast · NULL · Journalists · Terrorism cases
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment, with the first 3 years to be served in prison and the remainder of the sentence in a high-security penal colony
Upheld May 4, 2026
Charges
- Article 205 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Terrorist attack (by a group or with serious consequences)
- Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in a terrorist community
- Article 276, Russian Criminal Code — Transferring, collecting, stealing, or storing information classified as state secret with the intent to transfer to a foreign state, organization, or their representatives.
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, together with other administrators of the Telegram channel "Melitopol is Ukraine", he pointed Ukrainian missiles at the building of Melitopol college on 50th Anniversary of Victory Avenue, where the offices of the National Guard of Russia and FSB in Zaporizhzhya region were located.
Latest event
May 4, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 5, 2026
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Rostov oblast
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Maksim Rupchev's case
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Maksim Rupchev's case
- Case number
- 1-518/2025
Thematic group: The case of "Melitopol is Ukraine" Telegram channel
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 2, Rostov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
347910, г. Таганрог, ул. Ленина, 175, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области, Рупчев Максим Анатольевич, 2000 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A Ukrainian journalist, the administrator of the Telegram channel "Melitopol is Ukraine". On 20 August 2023, he was detained and then taken into custody on charges of espionage, participation in a terrorist community and committing a terrorist act. In June 2025, the case went to court. On 13 November 2025, Rupchev was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 205 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.