American Transgender Combat Medic Sarah Ashton-Cirillo Sentenced to 20 Years by Russian Court in Donetsk

American trans woman Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, a former journalist turned combat medic and spokesperson for Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces (TDF), has been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison by the Supreme Court of the Russian-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

The court accused the 47-year-old US citizen of acting as a mercenary and of spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian military. Her charges include:

• Being a mercenary fighting for Ukraine’s armed forces

• Disseminating fake news, including allegations of Russian chemical weapons use in Ukraine and Syria

From Reporter to Soldier

Ashton-Cirillo arrived in Ukraine in early March 2022 as a war correspondent for LGBTQ Nation shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion. She quickly resigned and joined Ukraine’s 113th Kharkiv Territorial Defence Brigade, where she served as a combat medic and later achieved the rank of junior sergeant.

After being injured by Russian artillery, she left the frontlines and was appointed an English-language spokesperson for the TDF in 2023. She gained attention through her YouTube series “Russia Hates the Truth,” where she challenged Russian propaganda narratives.

Target of Russian Charges

In 2024, Russian authorities added her to the country’s register of extremists and terrorists, citing her public remarks, including a controversial video where she claimed Russian journalists affiliated with the Kremlin would be “hunted down.”

This video — and other posts in which she accused Russia of stockpiling biological and chemical weapons — were central to the case brought against her in the occupied Donetsk court.

The ruling stated: “She voluntarily joined the International Legion… underwent training and participated in combat operations… She disseminated false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and has now been sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony.”

US Controversy

Her activities in Ukraine sparked political controversy in the US. In August 2023, then-Senator JD Vance (now Vice President) raised concerns in a letter to top US officials, questioning whether she had threatened violence against those spreading Russian propaganda and whether she was being funded with American resources.

Her unauthorized video response to Vance, delivered while wearing military uniform, led to a brief suspension from her TDF role. She admitted later that posting the video without approval during President Zelensky’s US visit was “a mistake.”

She was later cleared and reinstated but transitioned to another undisclosed role within Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Where Is Ashton-Cirillo Now?

Ashton-Cirillo remains in Ukraine as of May 2025, actively involved in crowdfunding and support campaigns for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. The 20-year sentence was issued in absentia, meaning she will be arrested if captured by Russian forces or any country honoring the DPR court’s international warrant.