A court in Russia's Bryansk Oblast has sentenced Moscow resident Oleg Kuryayev to 15 years in a maximum-security penal colony after convicting him of state treason for gathering intelligence for Ukraine.
The Bryansk Regional Court found Kuryayev guilty under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay a fine of 300,000 rubles and authorized the seizure of assets linked to the crime.
According to judicial findings reported by the court press service, Kuryayev operated under instructions from a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine. Investigators determined that he traveled to Bryansk Oblast to record video footage of critical infrastructure and military facilities whose locations constitute a state secret, subsequently sending the recorded material and coordinates to his contact.
During the trial, Kuryayev fully admitted his guilt to the charges. He testified that he opposed Russia's special military operation in Ukraine and watched anti-Russian channels before receiving an offer from Ukrainian special services to provide them with assistance.
As part of the court ruling, authorities confiscated two mobile phones used to film the sites. Judges also ordered the forfeiture of one million rubles obtained from the sale of a car used in committing the crime.
Border region security and legal penalties
Bryansk Oblast is a region in western Russia located along the country's international border with Ukraine and Belarus. Due to its proximity to active conflict zones, the area houses significant military installations, transport networks, and border infrastructure.
Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code regulates high treason, applying to citizens who carry out espionage or render assistance to foreign states or organizations. The Main Directorate of Intelligence, known as the GUR, acts as the primary military intelligence service for Ukraine.
Russia officially designates its military campaign in Ukraine as a special military operation. Federal security agencies and regional courts across Russia regularly process criminal proceedings involving allegations of state secrecy violations and illegal cooperation with foreign agencies.
