Lieutenant Colonel Irek Magasumov was once bestowed with the title of Hero of Russia.
Now, he has returned to the front lines in Ukraine just weeks after being sentenced to 11 years in prison for the murder of an 18-year-old girl in Lugansk, as reported by BUSINESS Online and Tatar-Inform.
Before his prison sentence, Magasumov served as the deputy commander of the 74th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade and had been fighting in Ukraine since February 2022.
On August 2, 2023, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia, an honor presented to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Days later, he was implicated in the killing of Darya Kiseleva, an 18-year-old girl in Lugansk, during an incident that took place on August 11, 2023.
Details of the Incident
According to court documents, Magasumov and his colleague, Senior Lieutenant Pavel Yaskevich, met Kiseleva and a friend at a café in Lugansk.
The encounter reportedly escalated when either the girls or the soldiers themselves suggested firing a pistol. One of the shots struck Kiseleva, who later died from her injuries while being transported to a hospital.
Magasumov's defense claims that he was not present when the fatal shot was fired.
His lawyer and wife, Anna Magasumova, assert that after firing the pistol twice, Irek left to assist his colleague, who was involved in a conflict nearby.
The defense has argued that Yaskevich initially confessed to the shooting but later recanted his statement, raising questions about the true circumstances of the incident.
Despite these claims, the military court of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) found Magasumov guilty of murder and hooliganism, sentencing him on June 26, 2024.
Along with the prison sentence, he was stripped of his Hero of Russia title, although he retained his rank of lieutenant colonel.
Return to the Front Lines
In a surprising turn of events, Magasumov returned to the war in Ukraine on July 19, just over three weeks after his conviction.
His wife confirmed his presence in a recently circulated video showing the interrogation of a captured Ukrainian soldier, indicating that he has resumed active duty despite the serious charges against him.
Magasumov had previously stated his intention to return to the front regardless of the court’s verdict.
This decision has raised concerns and sparked controversy, particularly given the severity of the charges.
