News - The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
News
- 9 september 2025, 13:00
- The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
The prosecutor's office of the Donetsk People's Republic approved the indictment in a criminal case against a 30-year-old citizen of the United States of America Stephen Doyle Pressley. He is 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 investigators, in April 2022, Pressley arrived in Ukraine, where he voluntarily joined the ranks of the International Legion. Having undergone military training on the territory of training bases, he mastered the necessary skills to participate in an armed conflict and was provided with personal firearms.
Thereupon, in the summer of 2023, Pressley signed a contract and joined the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he was taking part in military operations against the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation until July 2025. These actions resulted in damaging civilian infrastructure on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic and the deaths of civilians.
Pressley was put on the international wanted list, and the court imposed on him a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia.
The criminal case was sent to the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic for consideration on the merits.
The Prosecutor General's Office
of the Russian Federation
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
9 september 2025, 13:00
In Donetsk, the prosecutor's office sent to court a criminal case against a mercenary from the United States
The prosecutor's office of the Donetsk People's Republic approved the indictment in a criminal case against a 30-year-old citizen of the United States of America Stephen Doyle Pressley. He is 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 investigators, in April 2022, Pressley arrived in Ukraine, where he voluntarily joined the ranks of the International Legion. Having undergone military training on the territory of training bases, he mastered the necessary skills to participate in an armed conflict and was provided with personal firearms.
Thereupon, in the summer of 2023, Pressley signed a contract and joined the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he was taking part in military operations against the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation until July 2025. These actions resulted in damaging civilian infrastructure on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic and the deaths of civilians.
Pressley was put on the international wanted list, and the court imposed on him a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia.
The criminal case was sent to the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic for consideration on the merits.