Russian 19-year-old arrested for allegedly attempting to go to Ukraine and fight against Russia

FSB officers in Russia’s North Ossetia have arrested a 19-year-old Yekaterinburg resident on suspicion that he planned to go to Ukraine to fight against the Russian army, according to the agency’s department in the region.

The Russian authorities said the young man found “unidentified members of an armed group” on Telegram and told the person he wanted to join the formation. After that, according to the FSB’s account, the suspect traveled to North Ossetia and planned to continue to Georgia, where he would meet with someone from the Ukrainian group. Instead, he was arrested in the region’s capital, Vladikavkaz.

The man faces treason charges. In late April, Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the country’s Criminal Code that make a treason conviction punishable by life in prison.