Former Ukrainian police officer from Kherson region sentenced to 15 years for torture

A former Ukrainian policeman was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for torturing civilians and collaborating with the occupiers in Kherson region. In 2022, he headed a fake police station where he tortured women, forced them to sing the Russian anthem and work as laborers.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism with reference to the court verdict.

The Velyko Oleksandrivskyi District Court of Kherson Region sentenced 53-year-old Serhiy Shcheglov to 15 years in prison in absentia for collaboration with the occupiers and ill-treatment of civilians in Kherson Region. In 2022, he headed the Russian-established police station in Kalanchak, where he abducted pro-Ukrainian residents and tortured them.

Shcheglov beat the detainees, forced them to sing the Russian national anthem, work for free, and threatened them with reprisals and deportation to Crimea. According to the testimonies of women held in the seized department, they were beaten on the head with a metal stick for the slightest mistakes, kept in inhumane conditions, without food or medical care.

A native of Zaporizhzhia region and former police major in Makiivka, Shcheglov worked in Ukrainian law enforcement until 2010. During the occupation, he cooperated with the Russians. He was found guilty under articles on violation of the laws and customs of war (Article 438 of the Criminal Code) and collaboration (Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code).

On May 2, the Velyko Oleksandrivskyi court sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of the rank of police major. The sentence has not yet entered into force.

Another former police officer from Donetsk region was sentenced to 15 years in prison for high treason. He contributed to the occupation of Kherson region, assisted Russians in filtration activities, and kidnapped pro-Ukrainian citizens. A police officer from Henichesk, who drove people to torture chambers, was stripped of his special rank of police corporal and sentenced to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property. In addition, he participated in "filtration activities" where he identified and abducted people who supported Ukraine and those who helped the armed forces.

Анна Бальчінос