Former Kherson Mayor Saldo and 11 accomplices are suspected

Volodymyr Saldo, who already has a sentence for high treason, was served with a new suspicion. Together with him, 11 other people associated with the activities of an illegal armed group in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region were suspected.

This is evidenced by the suspicion of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in August 2023, Saldo signed a decree on the creation of the so-called "V.F. Margelov Volunteer Battalion", which had a headquarters, mobilization and logistical functions. The battalion took part in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the occupiers provided equipment, drones, and transportation to support it. The group's activities were coordinated with representatives of the Russian occupation administration.

Law enforcement officers emphasized that the actions of Saldo and his "team" were aimed at undermining Ukraine' s sovereignty and strengthening the combat capabilities of illegal groups.

The battalion had a clear military structure with a headquarters, mobilization and logistical functions, and took part in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A "support fund" was created for its activities, and the occupation authorities provided the formation with equipment, drones and transportation, coordinating with Russian representatives.

Saldo acted as the so-called "governor of Kherson region". According to the investigation, his actions in the temporarily occupied territory were aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty, assisting the occupation administration and strengthening the combat capabilities of illegal groups.

Among the 11 people who were also notified of suspicion are members of the battalion who held various positions: from gunners and sappers to commanders of technical units and deputy commanders of detachments. All of them, according to the investigation, voluntarily participated in the activities of the illegal armed group, supporting the occupation regime and conducting hostilities against Ukrainian troops.

Among them: Yevhen Gusakov, Dmytro Belykh, Serhiy Deykun, Anatoliy Zhmaylo, Oleksandr Korelskyi, Andriy Kutuzov, Dmytro Lisitsyn, Kostiantyn Lubianskyi, Oleksandr Marchenko, Volodymyr Savenko and Valeriy Tyslenko. Each of them is accused of participating in an illegal formation in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region, and some of them are also charged with treason.

Last year, in July, the court found Volodymyr Saldo guilty for the second time and added another verdict to the previous one, according to which the collaborator will receive 15 years in prison for organizing a fake referendum on the accession of Kherson region to Russia. In addition to imprisonment, the convict will lose all his personal property and will not be able to hold leadership positions for 15 years.

Анна Бальчінос