The Kherson Court of Appeal has increased the punishment of former State Border Guard Service serviceman Ivan Salykin, who was previously found guilty of desertion under martial law.
This was revealed in the relevant court ruling.
The investigation established that on February 24, 2022 Salykin was serving under contract in the border service unit “Chonhar” and was part of a column that, by order of the command, was heading to a new duty station in Zaporizhzhia.
On the road near Nyzhni Sirohozy he turned the vehicle around and drove toward Ivanivka, unlawfully leaving his place of service.
In February 2026 the Kherson City Court found him guilty of desertion under martial law and sentenced him to nine years in prison.
The prosecution filed an appeal, arguing the punishment was too lenient. Prosecutors noted that the serviceman left the service on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion and is still evading responsibility.
The appellate court agreed with these arguments. It was also noted that after his escape Salykin has been hiding in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT). As a result, the man’s prison term was increased from 9 to 12 years.
Earlier it was reported that the SBU detained a deserter from the Kherson direction, who was selling ammunition in Dnipro.