On March 23, 2026, the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine notified two judges of the 2nd Western District Military Court of russia of suspicion. They had simultaneously sentenced captured Ukrainian servicemen to 16 years in prison.
What is known about the suspects
Eduard Borisov (born February 11, 1977) is a russian citizen, a native of the stanitsa of Severskaya, Krasnodar Krai. He is a judge of the 2nd Western District Military Court of the russian federation.
Oleg Shishov (born April 10, 1989) is a russian citizen, a native of Moscow. He is also a judge of the same court.
Circumstances of the crime
Both judges handled cases at the same court, located at 37 Arbat Street in Moscow, and delivered their verdicts at the same time — on September 22 and 23, 2025.
- The first victim
A senior soldier of the 95th Polissia Air Assault Brigade (military unit A0281) took part in a military operation in russia’s Kursk region. On March 18, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission near the settlement of Oleshnya in Sudzha district, he was captured and, under the Geneva Convention, obtained prisoner-of-war status.
However, in russia he was charged with “committing a terrorist act by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy, causing significant property damage.” The case was referred to the 2nd Western District Military Court, where it was assigned to Judge Borisov.
On September 22, 2025, between 10:00 and 12:00, Borisov handed down a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment for the fact that the soldier had been carrying out a combat mission as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In February 2026, the Military Court of Appeal of the russian federation upheld the sentence.
- The second victim
A senior sergeant of the “AJAX” battalion tactical group of the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade (military unit A4689) took part in an operation in the Kursk region in early May 2025.
On May 2, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission near the settlement of Kucheriv, Belovsky district, Kursk region, he was captured and obtained prisoner-of-war status.
He was charged under the same articles of the russian criminal code as the first victim — “terrorist act.” The case was assigned to Judge Shishov.
On September 22–23, 2025, Shishov handed down a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment. The sentence entered into force and was sent for enforcement.
Suspicion
Both convicted servicemen were lawful combatants. Criminal prosecution for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine constitutes a gross violation of Article 99 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which prohibits convicting prisoners for acts permitted under international law. This also qualifies as a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Accordingly, Judges Borisov and Shishov have been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — violation of the laws and customs of war. Criminal proceedings No. 12025000000002045 were opened on July 16, 2025. Both suspects are currently in russia.