On March 19, 2026, military police officers arrived at Zaitsev's…
On March 19, 2026, military police officers arrived at Zaitsev's residence to detain his son, who had escaped from a military unit. A second officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine detained Zaitsev while he was reloading his firearm.
Consensus
- Alexey Zaytsev was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the Lipetsk Regional Court.
- The crime occurred in March 2026 near the home of Alexey Zaytsev in Shcherbinino, Lipetsk Oblast.
- Zaytsev shot a military police officer during an attempted arrest of his son, who had deserted from military service.
- The victim was killed by a gunshot to the back while officers were retreating toward their vehicle.
- Zaytsev admitted guilt in court.
- The court ordered Zaytsev to pay 2 million rubles in compensation to the minor child of the deceased officer.
- Zaytsev was found guilty of illegal possession of explosives and ammunition, threat of violence against a representative of authority, and attempted murder of law enforcement personnel.
Points of divergence
- The court sentenced Zaytsev to serve the first three years in prison followed by the remainder in a strict-regime colony; he was sent to pre-trial detention (SIZO) in March 2026. — meduza
- Zaytsev was fined 40,000 rubles in addition to the compensation of 2 million rubles; his son had served one and a half years under contract before deserting. — mediazona
- The initial confrontation occurred on March 18, with three military police officers arriving at Zaytsev's home. The father refused entry, verbally abused them, and threatened to shoot. — meduza
- On March 19, the son emerged from the house first with a weapon; he later handed it over to his father before Zaytsev began threatening officers. — mediazona
- Zaytsev was taken into custody after being subdued by police and having his rifle seized during an altercation at the entrance of the house. — meduza
- The second military police officer detained Zaytsev while he was reloading the rifle; investigators found gunpowder and ammunition in the home after the incident. — mediazona
Coverage (2 sources)
- Lipetsk resident sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing military police officer who tried to detain his deserter son — Meduza
- A 63-year-old resident of the Lipetsk region sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing a military police officer who came to arrest his deserter son — Медиазона