News
- 21 Aug 2026, 15:18
- The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
The 2nd Western Military District Court has handed down an in‑absentia sentence in the criminal case against Liam O'Connor, a 26‑year‑old national of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He was found guilty under Article 359, Part 3 (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict), Article 317 (attempt on the life of a serviceman), Article 322, Part 3 (unlawful crossing of the State Border of the Russian Federation), Article 226.1, Part 3 (smuggling of firearms and ammunition), Article 205, Part 2, sub‑paragraphs “a” and “c” (act of terrorism), and Article 222, Part 4 (unlawful trafficking in weapons) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The court established that from December 2023 to May 2026, O'Connor participated in the armed conflict on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a member of the International Legion. Carrying firearms and ammunition unlawfully brought across the border, he took part in combat operations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region.
In May 2025, while in the Donetsk People's Republic, O'Connor killed a serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to obstruct lawful activities aimed at ensuring public safety.
In total, the mercenary received 5 million rubles in remuneration for his criminal actions.
A preventive measure of detention was imposed on him in absentia.
Taking into account the position of the state prosecutor, the court sentenced O'Connor to 29 years of imprisonment, with the first 8 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a strict‑regime correctional colony, along with a fine of 2 million rubles. In addition, the money he received as remuneration, totaling over 5 million rubles, was ordered to be confiscated, and a claim by the mother of the deceased serviceman for 10 million rubles was satisfied.
The Prosecutor General's Office
of the Russian Federation
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
21 Aug 2026, 15:18
British Mercenary Handed a Long Prison Term by Moscow Court in Absentia
The 2nd Western Military District Court has handed down an in‑absentia sentence in the criminal case against Liam O'Connor, a 26‑year‑old national of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He was found guilty under Article 359, Part 3 (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict), Article 317 (attempt on the life of a serviceman), Article 322, Part 3 (unlawful crossing of the State Border of the Russian Federation), Article 226.1, Part 3 (smuggling of firearms and ammunition), Article 205, Part 2, sub‑paragraphs “a” and “c” (act of terrorism), and Article 222, Part 4 (unlawful trafficking in weapons) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The court established that from December 2023 to May 2026, O'Connor participated in the armed conflict on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a member of the International Legion. Carrying firearms and ammunition unlawfully brought across the border, he took part in combat operations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region.
In May 2025, while in the Donetsk People's Republic, O'Connor killed a serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to obstruct lawful activities aimed at ensuring public safety.
In total, the mercenary received 5 million rubles in remuneration for his criminal actions.
A preventive measure of detention was imposed on him in absentia.
Taking into account the position of the state prosecutor, the court sentenced O'Connor to 29 years of imprisonment, with the first 8 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a strict‑regime correctional colony, along with a fine of 2 million rubles. In addition, the money he received as remuneration, totaling over 5 million rubles, was ordered to be confiscated, and a claim by the mother of the deceased serviceman for 10 million rubles was satisfied.
