A Russian serviceman has received a prison sentence in the Rostov region on charges of “working for Ukraine.”

This was reported by “Ukrayinska Pravda” with reference to the Russian media.

In the Rostov region, Ruslan Artikov, Senior Lieutenant of the Russian Armed Forces, who was detained in 2019, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was accused of “working for Ukraine.”

According to Russia’s FSS, the man “was collecting data for the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.”

The Southern District Military Court of Russia sentenced Russian Army Lieutenant Ruslan Artikov, who was accused of espionage in favor of Ukraine, to 13 years in prison. The trial was held in closed mode.

The court clarified that the verdict has not yet come into force, but the defendant “pleaded guilty.”

Also, the Russian military court deprived Artikov of his military rank.

It is reported that Senior Lieutenant Ruslan Artikov served on a contract basis in the 175th Brigade of the Southern Military District, stationed in the city of Aksai, Rostov region.

The serviceman was detained in 2019. According to Russia’s FSS, the officer was collecting data for the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Artikov was charged under the article “treason.”

In February, he attacked personnel of the Moscow detention center “Lefortovo,” after which he was placed in a punishment cell. This was preceded by the health issues, due to which he was being taken to a prison hospital.

Last year, Russia claimed that they had detained a citizen of Uzbekistan equipped with spyware at the border with Ukraine. He was accused of espionage in favor of Ukraine.

According to the FSS, the detainee was cooperating with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine since 2019.