A border guard from Chongar was sentenced in absentia to 10 years for desertion

A border guard who, at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, left his post without authorization and failed to return to his military unit has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was also stripped of his military rank of senior sergeant.

This is stated in the verdict of the Kherson City Court dated November 3, 2026.

According to the case file, the man was serving on a contract basis with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, he and other servicemen received an order to leave the Chongar area and proceed to a designated assembly point near Zaporizhzhia.

However, while the convoy was moving, the border guard, who was in his own Volkswagen, changed course near a stationary police post on Kosmichna Street in Zaporizhzhia. Instead of continuing on as ordered by his command, he turned his car around and drove toward Dnipro.

As the court established, the servicemember had previously surrendered his weapon. Two other border guards changed their route along with him. After that, the man ceased all communication and did not return to his post.

Witnesses testified in court that the man was personally present when the command conveyed the order to relocate the unit. There were no obstacles to carrying out the order—including combat engagements—while the convoy was on the move.

The court concluded that the border guard intended to evade military service permanently. His actions were classified as desertion committed under martial law.

The case was heard in the defendant’s absence.

The court found the man guilty under Part 4 of Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

He was also stripped of his rank of senior sergeant. The term of imprisonment will be calculated from the date of his actual arrest.

Ірина Глухова