Moscow Judge Orders Detention of Space Researcher on Treason Allegations

July 20, 2026 Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency A judge in Moscow has ordered the pre-trial detention of a space researcher on treason charges, Russian media reported Sunday, marking the latest in a string of criminal prosecutions targeting Russian scientists. Maxim Kravchuk, a 35-year-old aerodynamics specialist, works at the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash), a Moscow-based research institution operating under the state space agency Roscosmos. Kravchuk was arrested on June 24, according to the news outlet Ostorozhno Novosti. A judge at Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court subsequently ordered him held in pre-trial custody for two months while he awaits trial. RBC reported that Kravchuk appealed the detention ruling on June 29, with an appeal hearing scheduled for July 29. Under Russian law, treason investigations are classified as secret and held behind closed doors, leaving the specific allegations against Kravchuk unknown. Ostorozhno Novosti reported that Kravchuk had traveled to Ukraine and Moldova twice each between 2016 and 2019. Kravchuk is at least the fourth scientist from TsNIIMash to face treason charges since 2019, the outlet added. According to the exiled news outlet Agentstvo, he is also at least the seventh Russian scientist to have faced criminal prosecution since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Read more about: Treason , Science , Court cases Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Novosibirsk Court Jails 2 Hypersonic Researchers for Treason A judge sentenced Valery Zvegintsev and Vladislav Galkin to 12.5 years in prison each after finding them guilty of treason. 2 Min read Moscow Scientist Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison on Treason Charges Artyom Khoroshilov was arrested in December 2023 on accusations of carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on critical infrastructure... 2 Min read Russian Hypersonic Flight Scientist Jailed 15 Years for Treason Alexander Shiplyuk previously headed Siberia’s Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. 1 Min read Russia Jails Hypersonic Missile Scientist 14 Years for Treason Anatoly Maslov, who was arrested in June 2022, specialized in hypersonics — a theoretical field with important applications for Russia's advanced missile... 1 Min read