**Russia Sentences 2 Women to 14 Years in Prison for Donating Small Amounts to Ukrainian Army**
A Russian court has handed down a severe sentence to two women from the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, ordering them to spend the next 14 years in a general regime penal colony. The charges against L.A. Kachkareva and S.N. Dolgopolova? Alleged “treason” for making small donations to the Ukrainian military.
According to reports from Russian state media TASS, the women were detained in December 2023 after transferring a total of around $177 to what was claimed to be a foreign bank account used by Ukrainian intelligence services. One of the women reportedly sent 5,000 hryvnias ($120) in January 2024, while the other transferred 2,400 hryvnias ($57) from her mother-in-law’s account to Ukraine’s Armed Forces in May 2023.
But here’s the twist: one of the women claimed she had only transferred small amounts of money, between 100-200 hryvnias ($2-5), after seeing a donation appeal on an entertainment channel. She explained that she thought it was just a charity drive, and didn’t realize the severity of her actions.
**Russia’s Crackdown on Ukrainians in Occupied Territories**
This case is a stark example of Russia’s broader efforts to prosecute Ukrainians living in occupied territories since the start of the full-scale invasion. Since 2022, authorities have escalated arrests, prosecutions, and harsh prison sentences, frequently targeting individuals accused of “discrediting” the Russian military, committing “treason,” or allegedly acting as “foreign agents” for other states.
In recent months, we’ve seen a string of high-profile cases where Russians have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. This includes a lawyer who was recently handed a 7-year sentence for publicly speaking out against the conflict.
**A Humanitarian Perspective**
It’s worth noting that these small donations to the Ukrainian military would likely be considered mere drops in the ocean compared to the overall financial support received by the Armed Forces from international donors and governments. One can’t help but wonder if Russia’s authorities are using this case as a propaganda tool to demonstrate their willingness to crack down on dissent, no matter how small.
In any case, it’s clear that the situation for Ukrainians living in occupied territories is becoming increasingly dire. As we continue to follow these developments, one thing is certain: the humanitarian implications of Russia’s actions will only grow more severe if left unchecked.
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