A Russian military court has sentenced Vasyl Kyryushenko, the son of acclaimed director Oleksii Kyryushenko, to life in prison. The court found him guilty of participating in combat against Russian forces and has issued a warrant for his arrest.
The verdict was delivered by the 2nd Western Military District Court of Russia. In addition to the life sentence, Kyryushenko was ordered to pay a fine of 2 million rubles and to satisfy civil claims totaling over 7 million rubles.
This ruling was made in absentia, as Kyryushenko is currently outside of Russia. Russian authorities have identified the 32-year-old as a member of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), which is known for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
According to the investigation, Kyryushenko was allegedly involved in organizing a raid by the RDK into the Bryansk region of Russia in March 2023. The Russian government has charged him under 13 articles of the criminal code, including the creation of a “terrorist community,” illegal border crossing, and arms smuggling. He has also been placed on an international wanted list.
Vasyl Kyryushenko, also known as “Cardinal,” was born in 1994. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and initially worked in the real estate sector. In 2021, shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he moved to Kyiv.
With the onset of the war, Kyryushenko joined the RDK and has since engaged in various combat and special operations along the front lines. According to Russian sources, he was also responsible for training and recruiting new members for the RDK.
In media appearances, Kyryushenko typically appears masked and runs a Telegram channel focused on political analysis.
Oleksii Kyryushenko, Vasyl’s father, is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, having been born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He spent a significant part of his career in Russia, directing popular comedic series such as “My Beautiful Nanny” and “Who’s the Boss?” He became well-known for his collaboration with the production studio Kvartal 95, where he directed and co-wrote the political comedy “Servant of the People,” among other successful projects.
Vasyl Kyryushenko has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Russian military court for his involvement in combat against Russian forces. The case highlights the ongoing conflict and the legal ramifications faced by individuals engaged in military actions.