Freed Ukrainian POW Taranenko sent to custody for alleged desertion
On June 20, the Chechelivskyi District Court in Dnipro ordered two months of detention for Anatoliy Taranenko, a Ukrainian soldier freed from Russian captivity in May 2025, on charges of desertion and misappropriation of military property, a law enforcement source told hromadske.
Taranenko, 51, faces a bail option of 908,400 hryvnias ($21,611). If bail is paid, he must comply with conditions, including appearing before prosecutors or the court, remaining in his registered place of residence, and notifying authorities of any change in address.
He is charged under Article 408, Part 3, of Ukraine’s Criminal Code for desertion and Article 410, Part 3, for misappropriation of military property, facing up to 12 years in prison.
More about Taranenko
Taranenko, from Poltava Oblast, voluntarily joined the Ukrainian military in 2015, according to his wife and the head of Buniakivka village. His wife said he signed a contract to pay alimony but failed to do so.
A criminal case against Taranenko was opened on January 29, 2021, a day after he allegedly defected to Russian-backed forces. At the time, he served as a mechanic-driver of an infantry fighting vehicle.
After defecting, Taranenko appeared in Russian propaganda, claiming Ukrainian forces beat him, stole his food, and shelled Donetsk. He stated he had no intention of returning to Ukraine but vanished from public view by February 2021.
On May 25, 2025, during the second stage of a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, Taranenko resurfaced as a freed Ukrainian POW, recognized from Russian propaganda. In June, the Dnipro court scheduled substantive hearings in his case.
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