A court in Donetsk sentenced a French mercenary to 14 years in prison in absentia.

The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison 44-year-old French citizen Sylvain Gilles Bernard Kaupin, who participated in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was announced on Monday, July 28, according to the website of the regional prosecutor's office.

Kaupin was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict"). During the trial, it was established that in March 2023, he arrived in Ukraine through a border checkpoint in Poland and voluntarily joined the International Legion as a mercenary.

"Having completed military training, he was provided with personal firearms and took part in combat operations against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," the prosecutor's office said.

It is specified that after being injured in mid-2023, Kaupin ended his participation in the conflict. He received a monetary reward for his actions. The court sentenced him to 14 years in prison to be served in a high-security penal colony.

On July 24, the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) sentenced Stephen Rene Forero, a Colombian Vanegas, who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to 14 years in prison in absentia. It was established that a Colombian citizen arrived in Ukraine in August 2023 through a Polish border checkpoint. On the territory of the country, he signed a contract for military service as part of the 59th separate motorized infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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