Journalist Irina Levchenko Sentenced to 15 Years for Espionage
Irina Levchenko, a 64-year-old journalist from occupied Melitopol, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Russian-created court in Zaporozhye for espionage. She was detained in May 2023 with her husband Alexander, who was released in August 2024 and reported seeing her during a walk shortly before his release.
Consensus
- Irina Levchenko was sentenced to 15 years in prison for espionage by a court created by Russian authorities in occupied Zaporozhye.
- Levchenko was detained in May 2023 in occupied Melitopol along with her husband Alexander.
- Alexander Levchenko was released in August 2024.
- Alexander reported seeing his wife during a walk shortly before his release.
- Levchenko was transferred between detention facilities in occupied territories and Crimea.
- She was temporarily sent to Krasnodar in June 2026 and then returned to occupied Donetsk.
- She was regularly brought back to Melitopol for investigative actions related to the espionage case.
- The court applied Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, which applies to foreigners, due to Levchenko retaining her Ukrainian passport.
- The prosecution alleged that Levchenko transmitted information about Russian government buildings, military personnel, and equipment to Ukrainian intelligence.
- The alleged transmission could have led to targeted fire attacks on strategic Russian facilities.
Points of divergence
- Levchenko worked for regional newspaper 'Novy Den' and national Ukrainian publications before retirement. — tg_astrapress
- Levchenko worked in 'very well-known national periodical publications'. — mediazona
- Levchenko was held in various pre-trial detention centers on occupied territories and in annexed Crimea. — tg_astrapress
- Levchenko was transferred to Simferopol detention center in 2025. — mediazona
- Levchenko was returned to occupied Donetsk after being in Krasnodar and then regularly brought back to Melitopol. — tg_astrapress
- Levchenko was temporarily sent to Krasnodar and then returned to occupied Donetsk in 2026. — mediazona
- Journalistic organizations reported that Levchenko and her husband endured inhumane treatment and torture during detention. — tg_astrapress
- The journalists' center reported that the detainees were held in inhumane conditions, nearly without food, in cold basements on concrete floors, and subjected to physical and moral torture. — mediazona
Coverage (2 sources)
- Journalist Irina Levchenko, abducted in occupied Melitopol three years ago, sentenced by Russian court to 15 years in co... — ASTRA
- Journalist from occupied Melitopol, abducted in 2023, sentenced to 15 years in a colony for espionage case — Медиазона
Key entities
- Melitopol
- Irina Levchenko
- Zaporozhye Regional Court
- Russia
- Zaporizhzhia
- New Day
- Created by Russian authorities
- Occupational Created
- Center of Journalistic Solidarity