Border guard from Chongar sentenced to 15 years in prison

The court handed down a verdict in absentia to an inspector of the Chongar border guard service who betrayed Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia. He did not comply with the order and voluntarily went over to the side of the aggressor state.

This is stated in the verdict of the Kherson City Court.

The case file states that as a citizen of Ukraine and a contract soldier with the rank of junior sergeant, working as a border guard inspector, the man lived in Henichesk, Kherson region. He was aware that Russia was waging war against Ukraine and acted deliberately, knowing that his actions were illegal.

In the period from May 17 to August 25, 2022 (the exact date has not been established), he voluntarily went over to the enemy. Using his knowledge and skills gained during his service in Ukraine, he took up a position as a duty officer in the illegally created law enforcement agency of the occupation authorities - the so-called "Genichesk District Police Department" controlled by the Russian Federation. He worked there until November 2022.

Already under occupation, the man began working for the invaders, becoming an "acting duty officer" in the occupation police department. Witnesses confirmed that they saw him in a uniform with Russian chevrons. In addition, he himself offered his acquaintances to join the occupation police, promising a "decent salary."

According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, this is 26-year-old Oleksandr Godes. His father and uncle went over to the enemy's side with him.

On July 24, 2023, the DBR put Godes on the international wanted list. The court found him guilty of collaboration and desertion and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of his military rank.

His father, Eduard Godes, was the director of a local children's sports school and a deputy from the OPFL before the invasion, and now actively organizes propaganda events for the occupiers. His uncle, Viktor Godes, illegally registered his sports club in Russian registers.

Earlier, the court sentenced a resident of Kherson who voluntarily agreed to serve in the Russian police during the occupation.

Also in the dock was the former head of the Kherson colony, who ordered the forcible transfer of 97 prisoners from the Snihuriv colony.

In addition, the court sentenced in absentia a servicewoman of the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade of the operational command "South" Natalia Lysytska, who was found guilty of aiding the aggressor state.

Андрій Колісніченко