Kazakhstan opened 700 cases against its citizens for the war in Ukraine.

According to ТСН: In Kazakhstan, since the beginning of the year, over 700 criminal cases have been opened against citizens who decided to fight on the side of the Russian occupying forces in Ukraine.

According to the publication, during the consideration of cases, the courts do not take into account which specific formations the accused served in. They are all held responsible for crimes related to participation in armed aggression, regardless of whether they were part of the Wagner PMC or collaborated with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to statistics, around 200 citizens of Kazakhstan have died in the conflict in Ukraine.

Previously, Kazakh authorities were limited to warnings about criminal liability, opening only a few dozen cases each year. However, the situation changed drastically after the publication of information about potential mercenaries.

In April and July 2025, the Ukrainian project 'I Want to Live' published lists of over 1200 Kazakhs who are or have been fighting on the side of Russia.

The official reaction from Astana to these publications was cautious. After the first list, Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepikha stated that 'the validity of the disclosed data has not been confirmed' and called for official inquiries. A month later, a similar position was expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Criminal Responsibility

The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan contains two main articles under which one can be held liable for participation in wars abroad. Article 172, concerning participation in armed conflicts, provides for punishment of up to nine years in prison.

Article 170 on mercenarism is stricter. If participation in killings is proven, the court may impose a sentence of up to life imprisonment, as well as confiscation of property.

In 2025, a record number of cases was recorded: 709 for participation in armed conflicts and 28 for mercenarism.

It was also noted that Russia is treacherously recruiting hundreds of Kenyans to participate in the war against Ukraine, and Colombians captured by Ukrainian troops are urging their compatriots not to believe Russian recruiters.

These events indicate a worsening problem of participation by citizens of Kazakhstan in the conflict in Ukraine. Strict measures from the authorities, as well as international attention to this issue, may be important steps in combating mercenarism and war crimes in the region. Kazakh society continues to monitor the situation, hoping for a reduction in the number of tragedies related to participation in the war.