The Southern District Military Court approved a nine-year sentence in a maximum security colony for Crimean contract soldier Denis Narolsky, who refused to fight in Ukraine. This follows from the case file on the court website.

On March 30, the Crimean Garrison Military Court found Narolsky guilty under the article on desertion committed in conditions of armed conflict or hostilities (Part 3 of Article 338 of the Criminal Code). The man admitted guilt and motivated his actions by his reluctance to “participate in a special military operation and undergo military service.”

Narolsky was detained in January 2023. The court's press service reported that before this he had left the military unit without permission and began living in Crimea.

On September 21, Vladimir Putin announced a “partial” mobilization, after which Sergei Shoigu ordered the conscription of 300 thousand people into the army. The article on desertion in conditions of armed conflict (Part 3 of Article 338 of the Criminal Code) was introduced into the criminal code in September 2022. Punishment under it includes from 5 to 15 years in prison.
Since February 24, 2022—the first day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine—residents of Russian cities have been holding anti-war protests every day and talking about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become grounds for criminal prosecution. At the moment, more than 550 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our infographic .

The court approved a sentence of nine years in prison for a contract soldier from Crimea who refused to fight