Moscow Just Issued an Arrest Warrant for RFK Jr’s Son, Accusing the Former Volunteer Soldier of Being a Mercenary in Ukraine
He had no prior military experience.
Moscow just issued an arrest warrant for Conor Kennedy, the son of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. According to the New York Post, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow authorized his arrest in absentia, meaning he could face seven to ten years in prison if captured by Russian authorities.
Kennedy, 32, revealed in an October 2022 Instagram post that he had secretly traveled to Kyiv to join Ukraine’s International Legion, keeping his plans from nearly everyone. “Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine over the past year. I wanted to help,” he wrote. “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 told only one person in the U.S. where he was going and used an alias once he arrived in Ukraine to avoid special treatment or security risks. His father, RFK Jr., initially thought Conor had taken a job at a Los Angeles law firm that summer. When credit card charges started appearing in Poland and Ukraine, suspicions grew.
After Conor returned, RFK Jr. admitted to feeling a mix of emotions
“He said to me, when he heard maybe a little bit of anger and concern, ‘Dad, this is what you taught me to do: to stand up for what I believe in.’ And I was like ‘okay,’” RFK Jr. recalled. Despite their differing views on U.S. involvement in the war, he made it clear he was proud of his son’s decision. “I’m very proud of this. Of my son,” he said.
Kennedy had no prior military experience before enlisting, describing himself as “wasn’t a great shot” but good at carrying heavy equipment. He spent about two and a half months on the front lines in northeastern Ukraine, where he served as a machine gunner. In his Instagram post, he wrote that he had been willing to die for the cause, calling his fellow soldiers “the bravest people I have ever known.”
After leaving Ukraine, he resumed his law studies at Georgetown University. He now works as an associate attorney in Los Angeles.
Russia’s legal move against Kennedy is part of a broader pattern targeting foreign volunteers who fought alongside Ukrainian forces. According to First Post, under Russian law, these individuals are classified as mercenaries rather than lawful combatants, stripping them of protections under the Geneva Conventions.
The warrant adds Kennedy to a growing list of Western figures blacklisted by Moscow
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation conducted the probe that led to Kennedy’s arrest warrant, with prosecutors arguing he participated in direct combat against Russian forces in the Kharkiv region. While the chances of Russia apprehending him are slim as long as he avoids countries with extradition treaties, the warrant restricts his international travel and adds him to a growing list of Western figures blacklisted by Moscow.
Kennedy’s decision to fight in Ukraine wasn’t his first brush with activism. Born into one of America’s most famous political families, he is the grandson of former Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the great-nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Before his military service, he was best known for his environmental advocacy and a high-profile romance with Taylor Swift in 2012.
At the time, he was an 18-year-old grieving the loss of his mother, while Swift was a rising global superstar. Their relationship inspired Swift’s song Starlight, which fictionalized the teenage romance between his grandparents, Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy Sr.
Kennedy’s family background has always placed him in the public eye, but he has often tried to carve out his own path. In 2013, he was arrested alongside his father during a protest against the Keystone XL pipeline, showing an early commitment to civil disobedience.
After earning his law degree from Georgetown in 2023, he returned to legal work, now balancing his career with a personal life that includes his recent marriage to Brazilian singer Giulia Be. The couple announced their engagement in August 2024 and held a small civil ceremony earlier this year.
For now, the Russian arrest warrant doesn’t pose an immediate threat to Kennedy’s life in the U.S.
This is because Washington doesn’t recognize Moscow’s legal actions against foreign military volunteers. However, it does complicate any future international travel, especially to countries with close ties to Russia. Legal experts note that while the warrant is largely symbolic for now, it serves as a reminder of the risks taken by those who choose to fight in conflicts abroad.
Kennedy’s story reflects a broader tension between personal conviction and geopolitical consequences. His father, RFK Jr., has been vocal about his opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The contrast between their views highlights the complexities of family dynamics in the shadow of global conflicts. For Conor, the experience in Ukraine was transformative, shaping his perspective on bravery, sacrifice, and the cost of standing up for what you believe in.
This situation also raises questions about how Russia is using its legal system to target foreign fighters. By classifying volunteers like Kennedy as mercenaries, Moscow is sending a clear message that it won’t recognize their combatant status, even if they’re fighting for a sovereign nation. It’s a legal gray area that could set a precedent for how other conflicts are handled in the future.
(Featured image: Ukrainian Ground Forces)
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