Conor Kennedy, the 32-year-old son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been placed on Russia's international wanted list after a Moscow court authorized his arrest in absentia on charges of acting as a mercenary for Ukraine's armed forces.
The Basmanny District Court of Moscow issued the warrant following charges that Kennedy served with Ukraine's International Legion, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Kennedy's defense appealed the ruling, but an appeals court upheld the decision in a closed hearing.
If detained, Kennedy faces seven to 10 years imprisonment under the Russian Criminal Code. Russia's designation of foreign fighters as "mercenaries" rather than legitimate combatants carries significantly harsher legal consequences than those typically afforded to soldiers of warring nations.
Kennedy previously disclosed his service publicly in 2022, disclosing that he had secretly traveled overseas to join Ukraine's International Legion following Russia's invasion. "Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine over the past year," Kennedy wrote at the time. "I wanted to help. When I heard about Ukraine's International Legion, I knew I was going, and I went to the embassy to enlist the next day."
He emphasized the personal stakes of his decision: "I know I'm lucky I made it back, but I would also take all the risks we took over again. This war, like all others, is horrific."
Kennedy's service reflects the broader pattern of foreign volunteers enlisting in Ukraine's military following the February 2022 Russian invasion. The International Legion has attracted thousands of foreign fighters, though Western governments have taken varying positions on their legal status and the risks they face if captured.
