TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Son of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Conor Kennedy, has been put on Russia's international wanted list over fighting for Ukraine in 2022.
Citing Russian news agency Tass, a Moscow district court has authorized Kennedy's arrest in absetia, accusing him of acting as mercenary for the Ukrainian armed forces. While Kennedy's defense denied the accusation and filed an appeal, the appeals court has upheld the initial ruling. The trial was held behind closed door.
Who is Conor Kennedy?
The 32-year-old man is the grandson of former US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was the brother of former US President John F. Kennedy. His dad is the US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his mother was Mary Richardson Kennedy, who passed way by suicide in 2012, according to The South China Morning Post.
Kennedy dated mega popstar Taylor Swift briefly in 2012, and he married Brazilian singer and actress Guilia Be in March 2026.
Why did he fight for Ukraine?
Despite having no military experience, Kennedy traveled to Ukraine back in 2022 to join the country's International Legion. The Hollywood Reported reported that he served for about two and a half months on the northeastern front line.
Kennedy opened up about his trip to Ukraine in October 2022 through a lengthy Instagram post, stating that he was "deeply moved" and "wanted to help" after seeing what was happening during the Russian invasion, which is still ongoing.
Kennedy said he believed the war will “shape the fate of democracy in this century” and urged people to “join the legion, help on the border, or send medical supplies.”
“I liked being a soldier, more than I had expected. It is scary. But life is simple, and the rewards for finding courage and doing good are substantial,” he continued, as quoted from The Independent.
Kennedy did not tell anyone, even his father and his stepmom, actress Cheryl Hines, about his departure to Ukraine. Instead, he alerted them of his decision against taking a summer job with a Los Angeles law firm, per People.
While the two respected Kennedy's decision, they soon noticed that his credit card showed charges in Poland and Ukraine.
"I’m very proud of this. Of my son. And I knew his views about the war were not aligned with mine," RFJ Jr. told People upon Kennedy's return to the US. "He’d been arguing vociferously for the U.S. intervention and he didn’t want to be one of these people supporting a war and sitting on the sideline.”
Russian authorities had said Kennedy fought for the Ukrainian army in the Kharkiv area, though the claim was unconfirmed.
Will he go to jail?
Kennedy is charged with "participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict or military action" under Part 3 of Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code. If detained, he will be facing 7 to 10 years in prison.
He's not the only foreign nationals to be receive similar pronouncements by the Moscow court. The Independent noted US citizen Ingram Asbill Tracy James, 37, and British citizen Shorney Joseph Richard Ryan, who served as a drone operator.
Where is he now?
As Kennedy spent merely a couple months fighting in the Ukranian frontline, he has since returned to the US. Besides marrying his long-time girlfriend, Fox News reported that he resumed his law studies at Georgetown University.
Conor Kennedy is currently listed as an associate attorney at the Wisner Baum law firm in Los Angeles, California.
Read: Ukraine: Several Killed in Fresh Russian Strikes on Kyiv
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