Russian Officer Appeals to Putin to Drop Fraud Charges Against Scammed Son

Nov. 12, 2026 Lieutenant Colonel Kirill Suvorov. Video grab A decorated Russian military officer fighting in Ukraine has appealed to President Vladimir Putin over claims that his teenage son was coerced by Ukrainian phone scammers into actions that got him arrested on fraud charges. Yekaterina Mizulina, head of the Kremlin-aligned Safe Internet League, who shared the officer’s video appeal, claimed his son’s case was part of a wider trend targeting the families of soldiers taking part in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “In my view, all of this is being done by the Kyiv regime as revenge for participation in the special military operation, as well as to demoralize these families,” Mizulina wrote on Telegram on Wednesday. Lieutenant Colonel Kirill Suvorov, a four-time state award recipient with more than 25 years of military service, said his 18-year-old son Yegor was arrested in August for allegedly transporting bags of money and valuables across Moscow under the belief that he was part of a covert FSB security service operation after his state services account was hacked. Suvorov said the scammers allegedly threatened Yegor with life in prison for treason and his father with either a military tribunal or a targeted assassination if he did not follow their instructions. Mizulina published a letter from the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office confirming that Yegor Suvorov and unidentified “other accomplices” face up to 10 years in prison on charges of fraud, and that procedural violations have been identified and addressed during criminal proceedings. Suvorov claimed that more than 1,000 teenagers and students across Russia have been drawn into similar cases, warning that their criminal prosecution risks fueling public discontent. Mizulina said Suvorov’s is not the first appeal received by her office. “Ukrainian scammers are purposefully attacking the families of participants in the special military operation and defense industry employees,” she said. Read more about: Espionage , Ukraine war 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 Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Target Russian Defense Contractors – Reuters The cyberespionage group used AI-generated documents as decoys. 1 Min read Top Russian Cruise Missile Engineer Gunned Down Near Moscow – Reports Mikhail Shatsky reportedly oversaw updates to some of the types of missiles that are used to attack Ukraine. 1 Min read Germany Arrests 2 Over Military Base Attack Plot for Russia The men are suspected of spying for Russia and planning blasts and arson attacks to undermine Berlin's military support for Ukraine. 3 Min read Russia Detains Suspected Ukraine Spy in Far East The FSB has announced several arrests of suspected Ukrainian or pro-Ukrainian saboteurs and spies in recent weeks. 2 Min read