News - The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
News
- 26 august 2025, 15:32
- The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
The Donetsk People's Republic Prosecutor's Office has approved the indictment in the criminal case against 29-year-old Australian citizen Cullen Benjamin Lewis. He has been charged in absentia under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict).
According to the investigation, in October 2023, Lewis arrived at the Ternopil District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, located in the Ternopil region of Ukraine, and voluntarily joined the “Chosen Company” paramilitary unit as a mercenary. He underwent training at the training bases, mastered the necessary skills to participate in an armed conflict, and was provided with firearms. After that, until May 2025, Lewis had been taking part in military operations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
For these actions, he received material compensation in the amount of more than 1.7 million rubles.
Lewis has been placed on an international wanted list, and the court has ordered his detention in absentia.
The criminal case has been sent to the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic for its consideration on the merits.
The Prosecutor General's Office
of the Russian Federation
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
26 august 2025, 15:32
In the Donetsk People's Republic, the prosecutor's office sent to court a criminal case against a mercenary from Australia
The Donetsk People's Republic Prosecutor's Office has approved the indictment in the criminal case against 29-year-old Australian citizen Cullen Benjamin Lewis. He has been charged in absentia under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict).
According to the investigation, in October 2023, Lewis arrived at the Ternopil District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, located in the Ternopil region of Ukraine, and voluntarily joined the “Chosen Company” paramilitary unit as a mercenary. He underwent training at the training bases, mastered the necessary skills to participate in an armed conflict, and was provided with firearms. After that, until May 2025, Lewis had been taking part in military operations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
For these actions, he received material compensation in the amount of more than 1.7 million rubles.
Lewis has been placed on an international wanted list, and the court has ordered his detention in absentia.
The criminal case has been sent to the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic for its consideration on the merits.