Russia's Supreme Court upholds 11.5-year sentence for Moscow pensioner in terror plot

September 27, 2026 at 10:26 PM2 min

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Russia's Supreme Court on September 17 upheld the 11-year, 6-month sentence of Moscow resident Andrei Yevseyev for preparing a terrorist act. The court rejected his lawyer's appeal against the conviction and sentence. Yevseyev was found guilty of plotting to bomb social infrastructure sites in Moscow.

Key Facts

Russia's Supreme Court on September 17 upheld the 11-year, 6-month sentence of Andrei Yevseyev for preparing a terrorist act in Moscow.
Yevseyev was convicted under Article 30 and Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code for preparing a terrorist act, along with weapons and explosives charges.
Investigators said Yevseyev used 14 quadcopters to conduct aerial reconnaissance of a hospital, school, thermal power plant, and energy facility in Moscow's Southern Administrative District.
Police seized 14 quadcopters, firearms, ammunition, 231.2 grams of smokeless powder, and three VOG-25PM grenade launcher casings from Yevseyev's apartment.
Yevseyev was detained on June 8, 2024, after attacking a passerby wearing a 'Slava Ukraini' T-shirt and shouting the slogan.

Conviction and Appeal

The Supreme Court's military collegium ruled on September 17 to leave unchanged the September 3, 2025, verdict of the 2nd Western District Military Court and the February 25, 2026, appellate ruling. The court rejected the cassation appeal filed by defense lawyer B.G. Ashikilov. Yevseyev was originally convicted under Part 1 of Article 30 and Part 1 of Article 205 (preparation of a terrorist act), two counts of Part 1 of Article 222 (illegal weapons and ammunition), Part 1 of Article 30 and Part 1 of Article 223 (preparation to illegally manufacture explosives), and Article 116 (battery). The appellate court dismissed the charge under Part 1 of Article 223 (illegal weapons manufacture) due to the statute of limitations, resulting in a final sentence of 11 years and 6 months plus a 220,000-ruble fine.

Alleged Terror Plot

According to investigators, Yevseyev prepared from February 24, 2022, to June 8, 2024, to carry out explosions at social infrastructure and life-support facilities in Moscow. The court stated that Yevseyev used quadcopters to conduct aerial reconnaissance and film sites in the Southern Administrative District, including a hospital, school, thermal power plant, and energy facility. An expert examination found that 12 of the 14 seized quadcopters could have been used to collect data on Moscow facilities and deliver explosive devices or substances.

Arrest and Seized Items

Yevseyev was detained on June 8, 2024, after a conflict with a passerby wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Slava Ukraini' and symbols of the 'Freedom of Russia' Legion, both banned in Russia. Yevseyev struck the passerby several times with his hands and feet while shouting 'Slava Ukraini.' During the arrest, police seized a mobile phone, and a search of his apartment uncovered 14 quadcopters, firearms, ammunition, 231.2 grams of smokeless powder, three VOG-25PM grenade launcher casings, and other substances and items.