A court in Russia has sentenced an Australian man to 14 years in jail in a maximum security prison, after finding him guilty of being a mercenary in the Ukraine war.

The trial, however, was held in absentia, meaning the defendant was not in the courtroom.

In fact, Kallen Lewis didn’t even know he was sentenced.

Lewis has been fighting with Ukrainian forces since 2022, and has spoken exclusively to 10 News+ from the frontline.

Watch more from 10 News+ at 10.com.au