Sept. 8, 2025, 8:53 a.m.
(Raising funds for weapons. PHOTO: Getty Images)
Law enforcers served a notice of suspicion to a Crimean resident who is suspected of aiding the aggressor state and transferring resources to the Russian military. The suspect is accused of raising funds, food and equipment for the occupiers in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
This is stated in the suspicion of the Prosecutor General's Office.
According to the investigation, Venera Duvalidis, a native of Simferopol, organized the collection of funds and material resources for the Russian military in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and transferred them directly to the places of deployment.
The pre-trial investigation established that she intentionally and voluntarily collected material resources, prepared them and transferred them to Russian military formations, and maintained contacts with pro-Russian people through social networks and messengers banned in Ukraine.
Even before 2014, Duvalidis registered on a social network, created the community "People's Unity Yalta|Crimea" and the telegram channel "Helping our own Crimea". Through these resources, she called for fundraising, material resources and communicated with the local population of the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Russian citizens who intended to join the collection of aid for the military formations of the aggressor state involved in the armed aggression against Ukraine.
The investigation established that during 2023-2025, Duvalidis handed over portable radios, a motorcycle, ammunition, drones, blankets, tactical stretchers, medicines and food to the occupation forces.
In addition, the woman regularly publishes online appeals to raise funds for the purchase of medicines, ammunition and military equipment. In 2023, Duvalidis received a letter of appreciation from representatives of the Tirich Cossack Battalion for her active assistance to the occupation forces of the Russian Federation.
The investigation qualified Duvalidis' actions under Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - aiding the aggressor state, i.e. intentional actions aimed at assisting the armed forces of the aggressor state by collecting, preparing and transferring material resources that harm Ukraine. If proven guilty in court, she faces criminal liability.
At the end of August, the Prosecutor of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ihor Ponochovny, said that more than 3,800 criminal proceedings had been opened in Ukraine regarding war crimes and crimes against national security committed by Russians in Crimea. Ukrainian courts have already handed down about 200 verdicts in these cases, and another 580 cases are under consideration.
Анна Бальчінос