Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against US mercenary O'Leary

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case against Ryan O'Leary, a US citizen and mercenary of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU). This was reported in the agency on December 27.

"The Investigative Committee of Russia against a citizen of the United States of America Ryan O'Leary initiated a criminal case. He is suspected (in absentia) of committing a terrorist act (p. "a" and p. "v" of part 2 of article 205) and mercenarism (part 3 of article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)," the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement in its Telegram channel.

According to the investigation, O'Leary in August 2024 as a mercenary illegally crossed the Russian border and entered the Kursk region. He was armed with automatic, small arms and large-caliber firearms. In addition, he used explosive devices and military equipment.

The IC indicated that O'Leary committed crimes against civilians, and his goal was to intimidate people, cause property damage and destabilize the work of the authorities. The investigation is looking for O'Leary, plans to find out all the circumstances of his crimes and give them a legal assessment.

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Earlier in the day, the Russian Investigative Committee said that since 2014, 6,025 criminal cases on the crimes of the Kiev regime have been opened. The defendants are representatives of the leadership of Ukraine, members of radical nationalist associations, representatives of the Ukrainian security forces and servicemen of the AFU, reports "Gazeta.Ru".

Before that, on December 26, the court in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) sentenced 31-year-old American mercenary of the AFU Alexander Grant Tobiassen to 13 years in a strict regime colony. The investigation found out that he has been involved in hostilities in Ukraine on the side of the AFU since 2017.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.