Man jailed for falsely claiming membership in Wagner Group

A Hertfordshire man has been sentenced to prison following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) after he was found with a knife at a combat re-enactment event and claimed affiliation with the proscribed Wagner Group, say the UK Counter Terrorism Police in a news update.

Piotr Kucharski, 49, from Watford, was arrested at a re-enactment event in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk, in October 2023.

Kucharski, who had previously been banned from the group, allegedly threatened other participants, claimed he was a member of the Wagner Group, and stated he had fought in Ukraine. Witnesses reported him making a cutthroat gesture and slashing the air with a knife during an altercation with another attendee.

Upon his initial arrest for a public order offence and possession of a bladed article, officers observed Wagner Group badges sewn onto Kucharski’s camouflage jacket, leading to a re-arrest under terrorism legislation.

Further investigation by ERSOU’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit revealed that Kucharski had gone to great lengths to convince others of his alleged association with the group, despite no evidence supporting his claims or any indication that he had actually fought in Ukraine.

Kucharski was subsequently charged with professing membership in a proscribed organisation, specifically the Wagner Group, under Section 11 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. At a hearing at the Central Criminal Court, he received a sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison, with an additional year under licence conditions post-release. He will also be subject to notification requirements under terrorism legislation for ten years.

Hannah Wilkinson, Head of ERSOU, commented on the case, stating: “Our Counter Terrorism Policing teams work tirelessly across the region to keep our communities safe, and we will continue to ensure those looking to cause harm and disruption are brought to justice. There’s no indication that Kucharski was a member of Wagner Group. However, it’s clear that he was intent on causing distress by indicating he had fought for the organisation in Ukraine, particularly given he was carrying a knife at the time. I’m grateful to local officers for promptly arresting him after concerned members of the public raised the alarm.”