A traitor from the Mykolaiv region set up the occupiers' headquarters in his own home

Two years after the village was liberated, a resident of Mariivka was sentenced for collaborating with Russian troops during the occupation. He not only helped them set up their headquarters but also urged his fellow villagers to cooperate with the occupiers. 

This was reported by Intent, citing the verdict of the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv.

According to the investigation, during the occupation of Mariivka by Russian troops in March 2022, the man voluntarily agreed to collaborate with the invaders. According to the case file, he provided the occupiers with two residential buildings for their use, where they set up a headquarters, a rest area, and a storage facility for weapons and ammunition. In addition, he supplied the soldiers with food, water, and other resources necessary for daily life.

During the trial, witnesses testified that the man openly demonstrated his support for the Russian military. According to them, he drove around the village in a car bearing the “Z” symbol, wore a white armband, spoke to the occupiers as if they were allies, and accompanied them on their trips through the village. Some residents also stated that he persuaded people to help the Russian military by providing food and cigarettes.

One specific incident involved helping Russian troops choose a location to cross the Ingul River. As the court established, the man informed the occupiers of possible crossing routes and provided information that could have been used during hostilities against Ukraine.

During searches of houses used by Russian troops, law enforcement officers seized military equipment, uniform components bearing Russian Army insignia, a bulletproof vest, army boots, notebooks from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian field rations, and other items that, according to the investigation, confirmed the occupiers’ presence in the homes.

The defense insisted on reclassifying the case as collaboration, but the judge concluded that the defendant’s actions constituted treason. As a result, he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison with the confiscation of all his property. The seizure of a land plot covering more than 6.6 hectares was also upheld.

In Mykolaiv, a man was also convicted of treason for transmitting information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine to a representative of the Russian Federation via Telegram. Although he denied the charges and claimed the information was fabricated, the court found it to be genuine and useful to the enemy.

Анна Бальчінос