On 5 March 2026, Russian independent media that authorities had opened a criminal case against journalist Anton Rubin for allegedly spreading 鈥渇alse information鈥� about the Russian army.
The charges are linked to publications on Rubin鈥檚 Telegram channel, including posts about a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in April 2025. One of the strikes hit a civilian area, including a playground, causing multiple casualties among civilians.
Russian investigators classified Rubin鈥檚 posts under legislation criminalising so-called 鈥渇ake news鈥� about the armed forces, which has been widely used to target journalists and individuals reporting on the war in Ukraine.
If convicted, Rubin faces a prison sentence under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code. Anton Rubin is a journalist originally from Samara who currently lives outside Russia.