A 39-year-old man from Zheleznogorsk, Siberia, has been sentenced to three years in prison for defacing Russian military recruitment posters, regional authorities reported on Tuesday, December 10.

The man was accused of vandalizing 13 posters last June that called for citizens to enlist in the Russian army. Authorities described his actions as “deliberate and intentional.”

The court found the man guilty of “discrediting” the Russian armed forces, a charge that has increasingly been used to suppress opposition to Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

This comes amid intensified efforts by the Russian government to silence dissent since the war began in February 2022.

Thousands of citizens have faced sanctions, threats, or imprisonment for voicing opposition.

The case underscores broader trends in Russia, where arrests for charges like treason, sabotage, espionage, and extremism have been on the rise, often resulting in severe sentences.

Public campaigns in various regions continue to encourage military enlistment, offering financial incentives as the conflict nears its third year.