An occupation court in Melitopol has sentenced Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko to 15 years in prison after russian authorities accused her of “espionage.”

The occupation “Zaporizhzhia Regional Court” in Melitopol handed down its sentence to Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko on September 4. The russian side sentenced her to 15 years in prison, accusing her of “espionage.”

Details of the case were published by the Book of Torturers of the Ukrainian People.

The ruling was issued by a court illegally established by the russian occupiers in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. Ukraine does not recognize either the jurisdiction of such bodies or the sentences they issue.

What is known about Iryna Levchenko’s case

The trial of the journalist took place in Melitopol. The identity of the judge who delivered the sentence was not disclosed by the occupation authorities. His face was concealed in footage of the hearing published on Telegram.

Russian troops abducted Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr in early May 2023 in occupied Melitopol. The couple were initially held together and were later separated.

Oleksandr Levchenko was released in August 2024. According to “RIA South,” he remained in Melitopol after his release.

Iryna Levchenko is a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine. By the time Melitopol was fully occupied, she was already retired and was no longer working as a journalist.

The russian side completely closed the case files to public access. According to “RIA South,” even the journalist’s defense lawyer did not have full access to the case materials.

What the occupiers accused the journalist of

According to the russian FSB, after the occupation of Melitopol, Levchenko allegedly passed information to the Ukrainian side via Telegram about the locations of russian administrative and security structures, their employees, as well as the routes used by military personnel, equipment and weapons.

Russian security forces claim that in February 2023, the journalist passed data about so-called russian “ministries” and “agencies,” including security structures, their addresses and lists of employees.

The occupation authorities classified these actions as “espionage.” The FSB also claimed that some of the information allegedly remained stored on Levchenko’s phone until her detention.

At the same time, all these claims come from russian security structures and the occupation court. There has been no independent verification of the circumstances they describe, and Ukraine does not recognize the trial itself as lawful.

15-year sentence just before her 65th birthday

Iryna Levchenko is due to turn 65 on September 16. Ten days before her birthday, the occupation court effectively sentenced her to 15 years in prison.

Levchenko’s case once again demonstrates how russia uses illegal judicial structures established in occupied territories to persecute Ukrainian citizens. The sentences issued by such bodies have no lawful legal consequences and cannot be considered legitimate decisions of the Ukrainian justice system.