Connor Kennedy, the son of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has reportedly been placed on Russia’s international wanted list over his participation in the war in Ukraine on the side of Ukrainian forces.
According to the New York Post, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court approved the “arrest” of the 32-year-old, with Russian authorities accusing him of serving as a mercenary in the Ukrainian armed forces.
Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported that if Kennedy were arrested and convicted in Russia, he could face seven to 10 years in prison.
Connor Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, revealed in October 2022 that he had secretly traveled to Ukraine and joined the International Legion, despite having no previous military experience.
“I Knew I Had to Go”
In a post on Instagram, Kennedy described his decision to leave the United States and find himself on the front lines of the war.
“Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine. I wanted to help,” he wrote.
After learning about Ukraine’s International Legion, he said he immediately made the decision to go and visited the Ukrainian embassy the following day to enlist.
The unit, made up of foreign volunteers, was established in February 2022 following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for international volunteers to help defend Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
Kennedy said his journey and enlistment were carried out in strict secrecy. According to his account, only one person in the United States knew where he really was, while only one person in Ukraine knew his real name.
“I didn’t want my family or friends to worry, and I didn’t want them to treat me differently there,” he explained.
