Former Deputy Head of the Territorial Coordination Center in the Kherson region was convicted of treason

The Primorsky District Court of Odesa found the former deputy head of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support in the Beryslav District of Kherson Oblast guilty of treason, collaboration, and desertion. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison with confiscation of property and stripped of his military rank of major.

This is stated in the court’s verdict.

As established by the court, in June 2022, the officer voluntarily defected to Russia and headed an “police department” illegally established by the occupying authorities in the temporarily occupied city of Beryslav. In this position, he managed personnel, processed applications, ensured security in the occupied territory, and, according to the investigation, assisted in identifying Ukrainian military personnel for their subsequent detention by Russian occupiers.

In addition, the court found it proven that the defendant failed to report to his place of military service after his unit was redeployed, thereby committing desertion under martial law.

During the trial, the man fully admitted his guilt and expressed remorse. He stated that after the occupation of Beryslav, he returned home, was subsequently detained by Russian military personnel, and then agreed to cooperate with the occupying authorities. He also claimed that he later attempted to leave the occupied territory, cooperated with Ukrainian intelligence agencies upon his return, and provided testimony regarding other individuals suspected of collaboration.

Despite this, the court concluded that his guilt in high treason, voluntarily holding a position in an illegal law enforcement agency, and desertion had been fully proven.

Pursuant to the court’s verdict, the man was sentenced to:

• 9 years of imprisonment for treason (pursuant to Article 69 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);
• 8 years of imprisonment for collaboration;
• 6 years of imprisonment for desertion.

For the aggregate of these crimes, the final sentence is 9 years of imprisonment, confiscation of property, stripping of the military rank of “major,” and a 10-year ban on holding positions in state and local government bodies. The convicted person will remain in custody until the verdict becomes final.

Андрій Колісніченко