Conor Kennedy, the 32-year-old son of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been placed on Russia's international most wanted list after secretly traveling to Ukraine in 2022 to fight against the Russian invasion.

Russia's Basmanny District Court of Moscow authorized Kennedy's arrest in absentia on Aug. 12, according to Russian state media outlet TASS, on charges that he acted as a mercenary in Ukraine's armed conflict against Russia. The charge falls under Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code and carries a potential sentence of seven to 10 years in prison if Kennedy is ever detained. Kennedy's legal team disagreed with the ruling and appealed it, but an appeals court ultimately upheld the district court's decision.

How Kennedy Ended Up Fighting in Ukraine

Kennedy enlisted in Ukraine's International Legion in 2022, despite having no prior military experience, and served roughly two and a half months on the northeastern front near Kharkiv before returning to the United States to resume his law studies at Georgetown University. TASS reported that he fought incognito for the Ukrainian army during that time.

Kennedy first spoke publicly about the decision in an October 2022 Instagram post, writing, "My time in Ukraine wasn't long but I saw a lot and I felt a lot. I liked being a soldier, more than I had expected. It is scary." He also described taking precautions to keep his identity concealed, writing, "I told one person here where I was, and I told one person there my real name. I didn't want my family or friends to worry, and I didn't want to be treated differently there." Kennedy added, "Going in, I had no prior military experience and wasn't a great shot, but I could carry heavy things and learned fast. I was also willing to die there."

How His Family Found Out

RFK Jr. has said that he and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, only grew suspicious about their son's whereabouts after noticing credit card charges from Poland and then Ukraine. He later said publicly that he was proud of his son's decision to fight. As of this week, neither Kennedy nor his father had commented specifically on the Russian court's latest action.

Kennedy's Life Since Returning Home

Kennedy, who was briefly in a high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift in 2012, announced his engagement earlier this month to Brazilian singer Giulia Be. He is not the only American to face legal action from Russian authorities over support for Ukraine; Russia's Interior Ministry previously placed U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on a similar wanted list in 2023 following comments he made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.