Kyiv Sentences Brazilian National Who Fought For Moscow-led Forces To 13 Years In Prison

34-year-old Rafael Lusvarghi, a citizen of Brazil, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Ukrainian government for fighting for Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine.

He entered Ukraine in 2014, after Moscow annexed Crimea and separatists began fighting Ukrainian government troops.

READ MORE: Nationalists Catch Brazilian Man Who Fought for Russia-Backed Separatists
Lusvarghi fought with soldiers of the unrecognized “Luhansk People's Republic” and “Donetsk People's Republic” and was a darling in Russian propaganda videos.

Lusvarghi flew back to Ukraine in 2016 and was arrested at the border.
He was accused of terrorism and sentenced to prison in January 2017 but released a year later.

READ MORE: Kyiv Sentences Brazilian National Who Fought For Moscow-led Forces To 13 Years In Prison
On May 2, Lusvarghi was once again sentenced to prison.
Lusvarghi pleaded guilty on the charges of fighting for an illegal military entity, but denied all terrorism charges.