The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don (Russia) has sentenced Oleksandr Malyshev, an administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine, to 26 years in a high-security prison. He was found guilty of involvement in a terrorist group, espionage, and terrorism, the court’s press service reported on 28 April. Several Russian state-affiliated media outlets and Telegram channels, including TASS and Kommersant, also posted about the court ruling.
According to Russian media, the Melitopol is Ukraine admin was accused of “committing a terrorist act: launching a missile and bomb strike by Ukrainian military formations”. As per court’s press service, Oleksandr was found to blame for the fact that “in February 2023, Oleksandr Malyshev, using a Telegram channel, a feedback Telegram channel, a chatbot, and visual surveillance, collected and verified information… about the use of buildings and constructions to learn if Russian Armed Forces servicemen, other troops, military formations, or law enforcers were stationed there,” which resulted in “the locations of Russian FSB units in Zaporizhzhia oblast and the Rosgvardia Directorate in Zaporizhzhia oblast being targeted in a missile and bomb strike, with the buildings being completely destroyed or partially damaged.”
According to the Russian court, Oleksandr Malyshev, 27, has been sentenced to 26 years in a high-security colony and will serve the first five years of the term in prison. This is the harshest sentence that a Russian court has imposed on a Ukrainian Telegram channel administrator in this case.
Previously
Oleksandr Malyshev was detained along with other administrators of the Melitopol-based Telegram channels RIA Melitopol and Melitopol Is Ukraine in August of 2023. While they were detained on 20 August, the Russian state-affeliated media and Telegram channels posted footage fo their arrest as late as 29 October. Late on 21 August 2023, the Russian forces hacked the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian news outlet RIA Melitopol, which had continuted to operate even after the occupation of Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and multiple other pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels. Russian authorities have since passed sentences to several RIA Melitopol and Melitopol Is Ukraine administrators.
On 2 September 2025, the Russian-installed court of Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia oblast) sentenced Heorhiy Levchenko, the administrator of the Telegram channel RIA Melitopol who was detained by Russian forces back in 2023, to 16 years in a high security prison. He was found guilty of high treason and online calls for extremism.
On 3 September 2025, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don (Russia) sentenced Vladyslav Hershon, an administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine who was detained by Russian forces in 2023, to 15 years in prison. He was charged under three articles of the Russian Criminal Code: act of terrorism committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy or by an organised group; espionage; and organising a terrorist association and involvement in it.
On 23 October 2025, Yana Suvorova, an administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol Is Ukraine who has been in Russian detention since August 2023, was sentenced to 14 years in a low security prison. The sentence was issued by the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don (Russia). Yana Suvorova was convicted under the Russian Criminal Code articles on “organising a terrorist group and involvement in it”, “acts of terrorism,” and “espionage”.