In Russia, Ukrainian Polina Kuzmina was sentenced to 12 years in prison for allegedly financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Murmansk court issues verdicts in case of “high treason” and aid to Ukraine

The Murmansk regional court in Russia has sentenced Ukrainian citizen Polina Kuzmina to 12 years in prison in a case of alleged financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Severomorsk resident Volodymyr Hrabovetsky was sentenced to 14 years in prison along with her.

This was reported by “Nastoyaschee Vremya” — a project created with the participation of Radio Svoboda.

What are Kuzmina and Hrabovetsky accused of

According to the version of the Russian investigation, Volodymyr Hrabovetsky opposed the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine and allegedly developed a plan to assist the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine.

The FSB claims that he involved Polina Kuzmina to transfer the funds, who had the opportunity to send money to Ukraine through relatives.

Investigators say they made 78 transfers between December 2022 and May 2024. Russian intelligence services say the funds could have been used to purchase equipment, transport, special equipment and drones.

What punishment did the court impose?

Hrabovetsky was found guilty of “high treason” and Kuzmin of “complicity in high treason.”

In addition to the prison terms, the court also imposed fines:

450,000 rubles for Volodymyr Hrabovetsky;

400,000 rubles for Polina Kuzmina.
russia is increasing the number of sentences for “high treason”

Human rights activists emphasize that russia continues to use criminal prosecution as a tool to pressure people with a pro-ukrainian position.

According to the human rights project “First Department”, 2025 was a record year for the number of convictions in cases of:

high treason;

espionage;

“confidential cooperation” with foreigners.

Last year, Russian courts sentenced 468 people under such articles. At the same time, there were no acquittals in such cases.

Earlier, the occupiers sentenced teenagers from Melitopol

Let us recall that earlier, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets appealed to international organizations after the occupation courts of the Russian Federation sentenced three teenagers from the temporarily occupied Melitopol to 7–8 years in prison.