Crimean resident suspected of recruiting SBU officer

A 68-year-old resident of the occupied Crimea, Serhiy Parpolit, was served a notice of suspicion of treason.

According to the Court Reporter, in 2013-2014, the man participated in pro-Russian rallies in Kyiv. After the Revolution of Dignity, in order to avoid problems, he moved to Crimea, which at that time had already been seized by Russia. He has been living there since then.

"On February 24, 2022 - the day the full-scale invasion began - the police officer, probably on the instructions of the Russian special services, got in touch with an old acquaintance - an SBU officer from Kirovohrad region, Major Platonov," the media quoted the suspect as saying.

The policeman began to campaign for Russia: that the victory of Russia was a matter of time, Ukraine would soon be no more, and all the territories should join Russia. He offered his friend to move to Russia and promised him a good job there.

Later, he directly offered to work for the Russian side for money. At first, the SBU major refused and reported it to his superiors. But later, according to the investigation, he agreed. The police even transferred $4,800 to his card, allegedly as an advance for future cooperation.

It got even more interesting. Through Telegram, he connected Platonov with an FSB officer. The latter also offered money, but for participation in media campaigns that would discredit the SBU and the Ukrainian government, and at the same time justify Russia's war against Ukraine.

Earlier, the Kherson resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for treason under martial law. He passed intelligence on the movements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to a pro-Russian blogger who published the data on Telegram.

Also in Kherson region, 20 members of a criminal organization created during the Russian occupation were exposed. It included both former and current Ukrainian law enforcement officers who voluntarily defected to Russia. According to the investigation, these individuals took an active part in repressions against pro-Ukrainian residents - kidnapping people, conducting brutal interrogations, torturing and keeping detainees in unlivable conditions in the basement of a seized police building.

Олеся Ланцман