Russian serviceman who threatened the mother of a Ukrainian soldier in occupation with gang rape received a sentence in absentia
The Snihurivka District Court of the Mykolaiv Oblast found at the end of 2025 a Russian soldier guilty of violating the laws and customs of war in absentia for abusing the mother of a Ukrainian serviceman during the 2022 occupation of part of the region, Sudovyi Reporter news outlet reported.
The consequences of the Russian invasion in Snihurivka. Photo: decentralization.gov.uaThe individual is 35-year-old Dmitrii Shugankov, who at that time was on Ukrainian soil as the head of intelligence for the 2nd self-propelled howitzer artillery battalion of the 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Cossack Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, holding the rank of “Senior Lieutenant.”
The convicted man likely assisted Russia in the 2014 occupation of Crimea, an action for which media reports indicate he received a commendation medal from the military command.
The incident for which the Russian officer was tried took place on September 5, 2022.
Shugankov and other Russian service members detained the victim, claiming they had information that her relatives were serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and that she was providing coordinates for strikes against the occupying forces. Russian soldiers beat the woman with their hands and the butts of their rifles, fired shots near her feet, and threatened to take her to a forest belt to commit sexual violence involving all personnel present.
You may also want to read: Russian serviceman Chingiz Atantaev was sentenced in absentia for torturing civilians in Andriivka, Kyiv region
During the trial, the woman identified Shuhankov and another Russian soldier, Alikhan Kushkhov, from photographs of the 15 men present that day. Law enforcement officials have collected evidence against Kushkhov regarding several other episodes of mistreatment of civilians; in one instance, he allegedly forced a minor to clean a house used by Russian troops.
The court sentenced Shuhankov in absentia to 10 years in prison.
The convicted Russian serviceman, Dmitrii Shugankov, who illegally invaded the territory of Ukraine. Photo: archive of the Myrotvorets websiteRussian soldiers abducted and tortured many individuals: one woman was threatened with being set on fire and forced to walk through a purportedly mined field blindfolded, while a man was kidnapped from the street and chained to a post for 24 hours to be beaten.
One Russian serviceman, Akhmedgadzhi Magomedaliev, is suspected of raping a schoolgirl.
Keep up with ZMINA on X and LinkedIn – and help us improve by answering a few quick questions here about our English-language coverage.
