March 25, 2026
The price of a few cents: Women in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine are being jailed for tiny payments to Ukraine
In March 2026, a Russian court sentenced 68-year-old Galina Bekhter, a resident of the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region, to 11 years in a penal colony in a case of “state treason.” The charge stemmed from a transfer made through a mobile app of a Ukrainian bank. According to Russian security services, the money was intended to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In recent months, such cases have become routine: prosecution for transfers through Ukrainian banks has become one of the pillars of repressive practice in the occupied territories. Criminal cases can be initiated over donations of as little $10, and the victims are most often elderly women. Even if the money was not sent directly to foundations assisting the Ukrainian army, Moscow’s law enforcement officials can still interpret any such transfer as constituting support for “the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
TL;DR
- Women in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine are receiving lengthy prison sentences for small money transfers to Ukraine, often considered "state treason."
- Transfers as small as $10.27 have resulted in sentences of over 11 years in penal colonies.
- Russian security services often discover these transfers through routine phone checks at borders or checkpoints, examining banking apps.
- Evidence can include app screenshots, bank documents, or even correspondence mentioning transfers.
- The number of "state treason" charges has dramatically increased since the full-scale invasion in 2022, with punishments becoming harsher.
- A significant portion of these cases involve donations or transfers interpreted as support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- Forced passportization is becoming a requirement for residents in occupied territories, often linked to retaining property or accessing services.
- Elderly women are frequently targeted, possibly due to their continued travel for essential matters and to maximize the demoralizing effect of repression.
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