Former employee of humanitarian headquarters in Kherson region remains in custody

A court in Mykolaiv has extended the arrest of a suspected high treason offender in Kherson region. He is suspected of passing intelligence on the location of the Ukrainian military to the enemy.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

The investigation established that the resident of Kozatske village, Kherson region, who works as a dispatcher at the humanitarian headquarters of the Novokakhovka city military administration, assisted the aggressor country in subversive activities against Ukraine. According to law enforcement, he corresponded in the Telegram messenger with a user from Russia, collecting information about the location and movement of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.

The investigation established that the suspect was aware of the criminality of his actions and the possible harm to state security. In the course of correspondence, he transferred information about the military of one of the coastal defense brigades, including a photo image of a fragment of a map with marks of the location of defense forces.

The data covered several strategic facilities and units involved in repelling Russian aggression. Law enforcement officers noted that the defendant acted consciously and understood the consequences - the information transmitted could be used to adjust fire and other sabotage against Ukraine.

To complete the pre-trial investigation, investigators plan to obtain the conclusions of computer and technical examinations, declassify the materials of special investigative actions and verify the information provided by the military unit. After that, the final qualification of the suspect's actions will be made and an indictment will be drawn up.

The suspect was notified of being suspected of treason in November last year. The article provides for a sentence of 15 years to life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The court ruled to extend the pre-trial investigation for up to five months and to keep the suspect in custody until April 4, 2026 inclusive.

During the court hearings, the suspect denied his guilt, claiming that he has been a Russian citizen since 2022 and acted as a citizen of that state.

Анна Бальчінос