Yekaterinburg man sentenced to three years for cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence
In short
The Sverdlovsk Regional Court sentenced Pavel Paderin of Yekaterinburg to three years in a general-regime colony for cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state or organization, the court's press service said, according to Interfax. The court said he contacted Ukrainian special services in 2025, offered data about scientists and development work, and partially admitted guilt. Interfax reported an additional 300,000-ruble fine, a one-year restriction of freedom and the confiscation of his mobile phone.
Read the full story 1 min read
The Sverdlovsk Regional Court sentenced Pavel Paderin of Yekaterinburg to three years in a general-regime colony for cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state or organization, the court's press service said, according to Interfax. RIA Novosti and TASS also reported the conviction; TASS said he was given three years in a general-regime colony. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The court said Paderin established contact with Ukrainian special services on a confidential basis on his own initiative in 2025, maintained correspondence and promised to provide data about scientists and development work. Interfax reported that he was convicted under article 275.1 of the criminal code and was also fined 300,000 rubles, given a one-year restriction of freedom, and had the mobile phone he used in committing the offence confiscated by the state. [ 1 ]
According to the court's press service, Paderin admitted guilt in part: he did not deny the correspondence but objected that he had acted against Russia's national interests and security, and said he did not possess secret information. That press-service account, carried by Interfax, is the only detailed description of the case among the reports; the two official-agency items did not mention his plea or the additional penalties. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The reports do not say what information, if any, Paderin passed to Ukrainian services or whether any material was transferred. The three accounts appeared within about half an hour of each other on 5 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case is a criminal-court ruling under article 275.1 of Russia's criminal code, which covers confidential cooperation with a foreign state or organization, and it concerns contacts that the court linked to Ukrainian special services. The documents do not indicate how much information was involved or whether anything was passed on.
Key facts
- The Sverdlovsk Regional Court convicted Pavel Paderin of Yekaterinburg under article 275.1 of the criminal code, on cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state or organization, the court's press service said through Interfax. [ 1 ]
- He was sentenced to three years in a general-regime colony. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Interfax reported an additional fine of 300,000 rubles, a one-year restriction of freedom and the confiscation of the mobile phone he used in the offence. [ 1 ]
- The court said Paderin established contact with Ukrainian special services on his own initiative in 2025, maintained correspondence and promised to provide data about scientists and their development work. [ 1 ]
- According to the court, Paderin admitted guilt in part, did not deny the correspondence but objected that he had acted against Russia's national interests and security, and said he possessed no secret information. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti and TASS reported the conviction without the details of the charge or the additional penalties. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What information, if any, Paderin provided to Ukrainian services Only Interfax describes the case in detail, and its account, based on the court's statement, says he promised to provide data but does not say whether any material was passed on.
- Whether Paderin acted against Russia's national interests and security The court's statement says he rejected this; the documents do not record a court finding on the point beyond the conviction itself.
- The additional penalties and the confiscation of his phone rest on one outlet's account RIA Novosti and TASS, which also reported the case, carry only short items mentioning the three-year sentence.