Russia issues arrest warrant for Conor Kennedy over fighting in Ukraine
Moscow court approved an arrest in absentia on August 12, 2026, accusing Conor Kennedy of mercenary activity for fighting in Ukraine in 2022.
Russian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Conor Kennedy, the grandson of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy, over his participation in fighting in Ukraine in 2022, his family ties and recent court actions show.
Decision reached by a Moscow court on August 12, 2026
A court in Moscow approved the arrest in absentia of Conor Kennedy on August 12, 2026, placing him on a list of wanted persons, according to reports from Russian state media. Kennedy is accused under Russian criminal law of engaging in mercenary activity, a charge that carries a prison sentence of seven to ten years.
Conor Kennedy is the son of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a great‑grandson of President John F. Kennedy. He joined the Ukrainian International Legion at the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022 and later wrote publicly about his time in Ukraine.
Kennedy posted on Instagram in October 2022 describing what he had seen there and saying he had no prior military experience before going to fight. He added that he had told only a few people about his decision and wrote: "I did not want my family or friends to worry, nor did I want them to treat me differently there."
Russian reports say Kennedy's lawyer filed an appeal against the court's decision, but the court affirmed the original ruling. The case highlights ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding foreign volunteers and fighters who joined Ukrainian forces after the 2022 invasion.
The announcement is likely to draw attention in the United States because of Kennedy's prominent family background and his father's public profile in U.S. politics and public life.
Photo: press material from the event
