The evidence gathered by the Investigative Committee of Russia has been deemed sufficient by the court to sentence U.S. citizen and U.S. Marine Corps veteran St. John Michael-Arthur, born in 1991. He has been found guilty of committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the RF (mercenary activity).
The investigation and court have established that in February 2022, St. John Michael-Arthur arrived in Ukraine via Poland at the permanent location of the International Legion with the aim of participating in the armed conflict as a mercenary for financial compensation. He agreed with officials from the command of this paramilitary formation to participate in combat operations against representatives of the DPR security forces and servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Following this, St. John Michael-Arthur was provided with personal firearms, ammunition, uniforms, and special equipment. On the territory of the International Legion's training bases in Ukraine, he underwent military training to acquire skills in handling combat weapons, developing strategies, tactics, and methods of warfare necessary for participating in the armed conflict.
From February 2022 to May 2024, fully aware of the illegal nature of his actions, St. John Michael-Arthur followed the orders of the International Legion commanders, directly participating in combat operations on the side of the Ukrainian security forces against the DPR security forces and the Russian Armed Forces. For this, he systematically received financial compensation of no less than 1,000 USD per month.
The court sentenced him in absentia to 14 years of imprisonment. He has been placed on the international wanted list.
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