A Russian military court has sentenced the 50-year-old Swede Christopher Forsbäck in absentia to seven years in prison followed by 20 years in a high-security penal colony for terrorism and other crimes related to his fighting for Ukraine. Forsbäck, who participated in Ukrainian operations including in the Kursk region, calls the verdict ridiculous and says it does not affect his commitment. He is now in Kiev working on drone development.
Christopher Forsbäck, a 50-year-old Swedish engineer soldier, went to Ukraine in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion to fight against Russian forces. He became a sergeant in the Ukrainian army, was severely injured in 2023 and nearly died, but continued his engagement. In 2024, he participated in Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.
A Russian military court sentenced him in absentia for terrorism, participation in armed conflict, smuggling of firearms and ammunition by an organized group, illegal transport, carrying and storage of weapons, and illegal border crossing into the Russian Federation. The sentence is seven years in prison and 20 years in a high-security penal colony. The verdict was issued over a week ago, but Forsbäck learned of it through a Norwegian journalist on Thursday.
"This is just ridiculous," Forsbäck says from Kiev. "The sentence means nothing to me. I decided in 2022 to fight for Ukraine. I will continue." He is internationally wanted by Russia, information he received from Ukrainian security police. "I'm not surprised. I'm not the first foreigner, or the first Swede, fighting for Ukraine whom they sentence," he adds.
Forsbäck is not worried about arrest. "I feel flattered. Apparently I've annoyed them enough that they put in this effort," he says. However, he fears not surviving an encounter with Russian authorities: "If they get me, I don't know if prison is what I'm most worried about. I don't think I'd arrive alive at the nearest police station."
His contract as a soldier ended in September, and now he works for a company developing drones, including those with explosives. In Kiev, there is a calm Christmas atmosphere, but he expects a possible Russian attack.
Military expert Joakim Paasikivi calls the verdicts unlawful, as foreign soldiers like Forsbäck are legally part of Ukraine's defense. Previously, other foreign soldiers have been sentenced in absentia or as prisoners of war, sometimes to death, but later exchanged. Another Swede has been sentenced to 23 years in prison in Russia for similar reasons. SVT sought comment from the Foreign Ministry without response.
