RFK Jr.’s Son Conor Kennedy Placed on Russia’s Wanted List for Ukraine Fighting

A Moscow court has placed Conor Kennedy on Russia’s international wanted list, authorizing his arrest in absentia on charges of acting as a mercenary for Ukraine. The 32-year-old lawyer and son of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. volunteered with Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022 during the early months of the war. If detained, Kennedy faces seven to ten years in prison under Russian law. He remains in the United States and has not issued a public response to the ruling.

The Moscow court ruling and charges

On August 12, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow authorized Kennedy’s arrest in absentia under Part 3 of Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers mercenary participation in armed conflict. Russian state media outlet TASS reported the decision. Kennedy’s legal team disagreed with the ruling and appealed it, but an appeals court upheld the original decision, according to TASS.

Kennedy’s 2022 service in Ukraine

Kennedy traveled secretly to Ukraine in 2022 and enlisted in the International Legion, a volunteer unit defending against Russian invasion. He served in combat operations in the Kharkiv region with no prior military experience. In an October 2022 Instagram post, Kennedy wrote: “Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine over the past year. I wanted to help.” He kept his deployment secret from family and friends, telling only one person in the US and using a different name in Ukraine.

Kennedy’s background and current status

Kennedy is the grand-nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as health secretary in the Trump administration. He is also known for dating pop star Taylor Swift in 2012. As of August 19, Kennedy remains in the United States without having been detained. Neither Kennedy nor his father has issued a direct public response to the Moscow court’s ruling.

Broader context and diplomatic implications

Kennedy is among several foreign volunteers from the US, UK, Sweden, Colombia, and Georgia who have received similar rulings from Russian courts. The decision to place Kennedy on the wanted list could further strain relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Trump administration, given Kennedy’s father’s prominent role in the cabinet. The arrest in absentia places Kennedy on Russia’s international wanted list but does not affect his ability to remain in the US.

Final Thoughts

Conor Kennedy’s placement on Russia’s wanted list underscores the legal risks foreign volunteers face for fighting in Ukraine, even years after their service ends. With Kennedy remaining in the US and his father in Trump’s cabinet, the case highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.

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