Wagner soldier jailed for killing comrades in rebellion refusal
A Wagner Group soldier received 16 years in prison for killing two of his colleagues because they didn't want to participate in the rebellion against Russia. The Wagner Group's invasion of Russia in June 2023 caught international attention.
6:03 PM EDT, August 9, 2024
A Wagner Group mercenary who shot his colleagues for refusing to join the campaign against Russia was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The prosecutor demanded 19 years in prison for 26-year-old Yaroslav Shekhovtsov, but the District Court in Voronezh ultimately decided on a different sentence.
In July 2023, near a highway close to the village of Oskino in the Voronezh region, two men in military uniforms were found dead. The suspect, identified as Wagner fighter Yaroslav Shekhovtsov, admitted during questioning that he shot his colleagues on June 24 for refusing to participate in the military rebellion.
The Wagnerites wanted to capture Moscow
In June 2023, Wagner Group mercenaries began moving towards Moscow and soon initiated offensive actions on the city's outskirts.
Surprised residents of the Russian capital witnessed unprecedented scenes – armed convoys and clashes with security forces in the streets. Although the attack was limited in scale, its symbolism was significant.
The Wagnerites' attack on Russia did not go unnoticed internationally. Leaders of many countries condemned the event, and experts began analyzing its potential consequences.
Some experts suggested that it could weaken Putin's domestic and international position. Others speculated that it might serve as a pretext for more excellent centralization of power and increased control over various mercenary groups.
