Collaborator from Kherson region betrayed Ukrainian patriots to the occupiers

A resident of the Kherson region was sentenced to ten years in prison and confiscation of property for collaborating with the occupation authorities. He organized the activities of the local administration and forced his fellow villagers to obey the invaders.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism.

In 2022, 56-year-old Vadym Panchenko headed the occupation administration of the village of Odradokamianka, Beryslav district, Kherson region, helped the Russians identify fellow villagers, organized an illegal referendum, and threatened local residents.

The court found that Panchenko, a native of Odesa, a resident of Odradokamianka, voluntarily took the position of "head" of the village council during the occupation in June-July 2022. The prosecutor asked for a 10-year sentence with confiscation, while the appointed defense attorney asked for a five-year sentence. In the fall of 2022, Panchenko fled, and the case was considered without his presence.

The evidence included a video of the celebration of the Russian flag day in the village and documents of the occupation administration seized after Gauleiter's escape. Before the invaders arrived, Panchenko worked as a watchman at a school in the neighboring Kakhovka district.

Witnesses said that he personally accompanied the Russian military, showing them the places of residence of Ukrainian patriots and ATO/JFO participants, and helped to settle the occupiers in the village, including on the territory of the Kamianskyi PrJSC and in the kindergarten.

Panchenko and his subordinates recruited staff for the kindergarten under the occupation authorities and forced local residents to cooperate, threatening them with violence if they refused. He supervised the opening of the occupation school, campaigned during the illegal referendum, and distributed so-called humanitarian aid while destroying Ukrainian literature and symbols.

According to residents, the Russian occupiers were unable to provide for the village's livelihoods on their own, so they forced locals to perform water supply, repair power grids, and distribute food. Panchenko actively contributed to these processes until the village was liberated.

The court found him guilty under Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition to ten years in prison and the confiscation of his cars and trailer, he is banned from holding public office for 15 years.

A court clerk from the Kherson region was also sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for her involvement in cases against Ukrainians. The occupiers accused the locals of stealing, while they were actually protecting the property of the Pension Fund.

Анна Літман