The Second Western District Military Court in Russia has sentenced Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign “Madyar,” to life imprisonment in absentia for his alleged role in a terrorist act. The court’s decision, reported by the media outlet Mediazona, stems from accusations that Brovdi directed soldiers from the 414th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to remotely plant explosives on a road in the Kursk region.
On March 26, 2025, an explosion occurred, resulting in the death of Anna Prokofyeva, a journalist for Channel One, while a cameraman and military personnel sustained injuries. The vehicle involved in the incident was reportedly transporting drones at the time of the explosion.
This marks the second in absentia conviction for Brovdi in Russia. Earlier, on March 23, a court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced him to 18 years in a penal colony under charges of aiding terrorism.
Brovdi, who has been active on social media, has not publicly commented on the Moscow court’s ruling. He has held the position of commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ drone units since the summer of 2025 and leads the aerial reconnaissance unit known as “Madyar’s Birds.” In May 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Brovdi the title of Hero of Ukraine.
In August 2025, the Hungarian government imposed a ban on Brovdi’s entry into Hungary and the European Union, citing his alleged responsibility for an attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline. The current Hungarian administration, led by Viktor Orbán, views Brovdi as accountable for this incident. Brovdi has asserted that, as an ethnic Hungarian and a Ukrainian military officer, he believes that the defense of the oil pipeline does not equate to protecting Hungary’s sovereignty but rather serves the interests of Hungarian politicians who prioritize their own financial gains from sanctioned cheap resources.
Robert Brovdi, a commander in the Ukrainian military, has been sentenced to life in absentia by a Russian court for alleged terrorism-related activities. This follows a previous conviction and reflects ongoing tensions surrounding military actions in the region.