Wanted to take Kyiv in 3 days: Russian general sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment

Jun 2, 2026 - 08:11

Russian General Alexander Lapin has been sentenced by a Ukrainian court in absentia to life imprisonment. He commanded Russian forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and intended to "take Kyiv in three days".

Source: Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on Telegram

Quote: "A Russian general who wanted to take Kyiv in three days has been sentenced to life imprisonment… We are talking about Alexander Lapin, a colonel general of the Russian Armed Forces and former commander of Russia's Central Military District."

Details: Kravchenko added that Lapin led the Russian Centre military grouping and directed the offensive from the territory of Belarus and Russia toward Sumy, Chernihiv and Kyiv Oblast and the city of Kyiv.

The court found him guilty of encroaching on Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability, as well as planning, preparing, initiating and waging an aggressive war.

Prosecutors proved that in February-March 2022, Lapin directly organised the invasion, planned and coordinated the actions of subordinate units, issued orders and ensured the continuation of hostilities against Ukraine.

Under his command, Russian troops occupied settlements in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts and advanced toward Kyiv along the left bank of the Dnipro River in an attempt to seize the capital.

"Since the war criminal is currently hiding in Russia, the verdict was delivered in absentia. The sentence will begin from the moment of his actual detention. I believe this will happen," Kravchenko concluded.

Background:

In October 2022, Russian media reported that Lapin, commander of the Russian Centre grouping in the war against Ukraine, had been removed from his post.
In January 2023, Lapin was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Ground Forces.
In August 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Lapin, who oversaw security in Russia's Kursk Oblast, had weakened border protection shortly before Ukraine's offensive.
In August 2025, Russian media reported that Lapin, commander of the Sever (North) grouping, had been dismissed.
In September 2025, Russian media stated that Lapin had been discharged from military service.