Conor Kennedy on Russia's wanted list over Ukraine war
Conor Kennedy, the son of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who once dated Taylor Swift, has been placed on Russia's international wanted list after a Moscow court authorized his arrest in absentia for allegedly acting as a mercenary while fighting in Ukraine in 2022, Russian state media reported.
Key Takeaways
- Conor Kennedy Russia wanted status follows a Moscow court order for his arrest in absentia on mercenary accusations, according to TASS.
- The 32-year-old joined Ukraine's International Legion in 2022 and spent about two and a half months fighting, The Times reported.
- If he were ever convicted in a Russian court, he would face seven to 10 years in prison, The Independent reported.
- Kennedy, a grand-nephew of President John F. Kennedy, previously dated Taylor Swift and this year married Brazilian singer Giulia Be.
- He is among foreign volunteers from countries including the U.S., U.K., Sweden, Colombia and Georgia facing similar Russian rulings.
The development puts a high-profile American name into Russia's campaign against foreign fighters who volunteered for Ukraine. Coverage of the case has also circulated across celebrity breaking news because of Kennedy's famous family and his past relationship with Swift.
Why is Conor Kennedy on Russia's wanted list?
According to Russia's state news agency TASS, cited by The Independent, a Moscow court authorized Kennedy's arrest in absentia and accused him of acting as a mercenary for the Ukrainian army.
Russian authorities say he fought for Ukrainian forces incognito in the Kharkiv area, though that claim has not been independently confirmed. Kennedy is among several foreign volunteers handed similar rulings.
What did Conor Kennedy say about fighting in Ukraine?
Kennedy revealed in a 2022 Instagram post that he enlisted with Ukraine's International Legion despite having no previous military experience. He said he was "deeply moved" by the war after Russia's invasion and was "willing to die" for the cause.
"When I heard about Ukraine's International Legion, I knew I was going, and I went to the embassy to enlist the next day," he wrote. He said he told only one person in the United States where he was and one person in Ukraine his real name.
The Times reported he spent two and a half months fighting for Ukraine. Kennedy later said he was lucky to make it back and that he would take the same risks again. He also urged others to join the legion, help on the border, or send medical supplies.
Could the case affect U.S.-Russia politics?
Kennedy's father is a senior figure in President Donald Trump's cabinet as U.S. health secretary. The Independent noted the in-absentia arrest decision could further strain ties between Vladimir Putin and Trump.
In practical terms, any Russian conviction would require Kennedy to be before a Russian court—an outcome The Independent described as unlikely. The ruling still keeps a prominent U.S. political family in the spotlight over the Ukraine war.
Kennedy, now 32, was once linked to a 2012 romance with Taylor Swift. This year he married Brazilian singer-songwriter Giulia Be, who earlier praised his Ukraine service when she was his girlfriend, calling him "the bravest man I've ever known."