Vladyslav Hershon

Affiliated media: Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine, Administrator

Incident date: September 3, 2025

Attack type:

• Criminal/administrative prosecution excluding (1), (2) and (3)

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Institute of Mass Information

Location: Russia, Rostov Oblast, Rostov-on-Don

Additional information:

The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don (Russia) sentenced Vladyslav Hershon, an administrator of the Telegram channel Melitopol is Ukraine who was detained by Russian forces in 2023, to 15 years in prison. According to Natalia Vyhovska, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast, who cited the Russian court’s website, the case against Vladyslav was opened in May 2025. He was charged under three articles of the Russian Criminal Code: espionage; organising a terrorist association and involvement in it; act of terrorism committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy or by an organised group. On 17 October 2025, pro-occupation Telegram channels made multiple posts about the topic. The posts featured clips of the detained Vladyslav Hershon “confessing” to his crimes. A video released by Russia’s FSB shows Vladyslav’s detention. He is half-dressed, face down, handcuffed.