The Supreme Court has upheld Tabachnik’s conviction for treason

The Supreme Court of Ukraine has upheld the sentence handed down to former Minister of Education and Science Dmytro Tabachnyk, who was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for treason and collaboration with an aggressor state. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The decision was handed down by the Criminal Court of Cassation on 4 March 2026, confirming the previous rulings of the courts. In addition to imprisonment, Tabachnyk has been ordered to have his property confiscated and is barred from holding public office for 15 years.

The court found him guilty under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including high treason under martial law, aiding the aggressor state, and violating the laws and customs of war.

According to the investigation, following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Tabachnik actively facilitated the aggressor state’s activities. He disseminated anti-Ukrainian materials and made statements in the media aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian authorities.

Furthermore, the former minister sought out individuals in Ukraine with pro-Russian views whom the Russian special services could use to establish an agent network and gather intelligence.

Law enforcement agencies also established that Tabachnik coordinated the work of the occupation administrations in the temporarily occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

The investigation established that he was in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, where he organised a seminar entitled ‘New Standards of Education and Training’. His aim was to bring the education system in the occupied territories into line with Russian standards, in particular by changing the curricula and financial documentation before the start of the 2022/2023 academic year.

In addition, Tabachnik, together with the deputy of the so-called “permanent representative of the Head of the Chechen Republic in Crimea”, M. Saidov, and Russian military personnel, organised the removal to occupied Crimea of stolen agricultural machinery belonging to a Ukrainian enterprise in Melitopol. The value of this machinery amounted to 3.59 million UAH.

The Supreme Court also upheld the sentence of another defendant in the case — Dmytro Vorona, who voluntarily agreed to work as an ‘advisor to the head of the Zaporizhzhia Military-Civil Administration’ of the occupying authorities and helped implement its decisions in the occupied territory of the region.

According to the courts’ rulings:

• Dmytro Tabachnyk was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property;

• Dmytro Vorona — 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property;

• M. Saidov — 12 years’ imprisonment.

The prosecutor’s office noted that the Criminal Court of Cassation agreed with the prosecution’s arguments: the guilt of the convicted persons has been proven, the legal classification of their actions is correct, and the sentence imposed is fair.

The case was heard in special proceedings (in absentia), i.e. in the absence of the defendants.