Betrayed his oath: a former rescuer was convicted in Kherson region

Oleksandr Babych, 47, a native of the village of Kalanchak, Skadovsk district, Kherson region, was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property for collaboration. The sentence was passed by the Velyko Oleksandrivskyi District Court on March 11, 2026.

This was reported by IRS-Pivden.

According to the investigation, after the occupation of part of the Kherson region in 2022, Babych voluntarily sided with the Russian troops and headed the so-called "District Department of the State Emergency Service 21 Kalanchak of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies". Prior to that, he worked in the Ukrainian State Emergency Service system, in particular, he was in charge of the local sector and a fire and rescue unit.

The court found that the man not only cooperated with the occupiers, but also contributed to the establishment of their power. In particular, he gave instructions to remove Ukrainian symbols from the SES building in Kalanchak and to raise the Russian flag.

In addition, according to eyewitnesses, Babych agitated his former subordinates to join the occupation structures, offering positions and promising salaries in the range of $800-1000.

Witnesses also reported that after the occupation, he remained in the occupied territory and continued to work for the newly created pseudo-authorities.

The court found him guilty under Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition to 10 years in prison with confiscation of all property, Babych was banned from holding positions in government, local government, and civil defense structures for 15 years after serving his sentence.

In particular, a 0.0954-hectare land plot will be confiscated from the convict.

The sentence has not yet entered into force.

It is known that Babych had previously tried to build a political career - he ran for local councils from the Nash Krai and Servant of the People parties, but was never elected.

As Intent previously wrote, the former secretary of the Oleshky City Council of the Kherson region, Viktor Syrota, was found guilty of collaborating with the Russian occupation administrations. The court sentenced him to nine years in prison with confiscation of property.

In addition, prosecutors of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office submitted to the court indictments against two residents of the region on the fact of voluntary election to illegal authorities.

Андрій Колісніченко