The Moscow Lefortovo Court has issued an in absentia arrest for Maxim Kirilovets, a member of the operational group within the operational department of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR). The development was reported by TASS, the state news agency. Kirilovets was taken into custody for two months in his absence and has been placed on an international wanted list, signalling serious judicial actions taken by Russian authorities in connection with alleged offenses connected to terrorism and related crimes.
According to Russian charges, Kirilovets stands accused in absentia of multiple counts under the Russian Criminal Code. The allegations include preparation for a terrorist act, illegal possession of weapons, illegal border crossing into Russia, involvement with a terrorist organization, and arms smuggling. The file indicates that the case centers on activities attributed to the Ukrainian intelligence official while operating in regions under Russian jurisdiction, with the court proceeding to pursue extradition or further legal steps as dictated by the respective frameworks of international law and bilateral agreements.
In another development connected to militant incidents in border areas, Moscow authorities previously detained Kirill Kanakhin, a former Russian actor, as a potential accomplice in attacks on villages in the Bryansk region. The authorities stated that Kanakhin had been held in custody for two months, with the timing of any further legal steps dependent on extradition arrangements and the formal process of the case. Kanakhin has also been placed on an international wanted list as part of ongoing investigations.
Earlier, the court in Moscow denied the in absentia arrest request for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot, who has been identified in Russian records as a foreign agent. The decision reflects the broader pattern of legal actions involving individuals tied to political or social movements and the complex intersection of domestic and international legal proceedings. The series of rulings underscores the heightened sensitivity around alleged security violations, border controls, and the handling of individuals connected to intelligence activities in the region.