High-profile case in Mykolaiv: former SSO commander denies high treason

The trial of Eduard Shevchenko, a former intelligence officer and ex-commander of the 73rd Naval Center of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who is accused of treason, continues in Mykolaiv. During one of the hearings, the court gave the floor to the defendant himself, who gave explanations for more than an hour and a half.

This was reported by the Media Initiative for Human Rights.

During his speech, Shevchenko spoke about his service in the Special Operations Forces, combat missions and work in military intelligence. According to him, a significant part of his activities was related to operational work and contacts with various people, which could look suspicious to outsiders, but was part of his job description.

The former military officer also described the circumstances that, in his opinion, led to the criminal prosecution. He stated that certain contacts and actions, which the investigation considers as possible cooperation with representatives of Russia, were related to the performance of intelligence tasks.

The investigation believes that after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Shevchenko could have cooperated with Russian special services. According to the prosecution, he allegedly tried to establish contacts between representatives of Russian structures and the Ukrainian military, and could have been involved in the transfer of information.

The defendant himself categorically denies these charges. In court, he stated that he did not work for Russia and acted solely in the interests of Ukraine. According to him, some of the events that became the basis for the criminal case were misinterpreted by the investigation.

During his speech, Shevchenko also spoke about conflicts with law enforcement officials and the circumstances of his detention. He stated that he believes the charges are groundless and insists on his innocence.

Human rights activists note that the trial in this case has been going on for a long time. During the proceedings, the court examines the investigation materials, hears witnesses and explanations from the parties.

Earlier in the case, witnesses were also interrogated, including officials and the military, who might have known the circumstances of the defendant's activities. In particular, the court interrogated the mayor of Ochakiv, Serhiy Bychkov, who spoke about his contacts with Shevchenko during the period when he was performing the mission.

The trial is currently ongoing. The court has not yet made a final decision on the guilt or innocence of the accused.

Eduard Shevchenko previously served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and took part in hostilities in eastern Ukraine. In 2014-2016, he commanded a special forces unit and received several state awards, including the Bohdan Khmelnytsky and the Order of Courage. In 2016, he became the head of the 73rd Marine Center of the SSO, but a year later he was dismissed by the military medical commission, which the defendant himself considered a politically motivated decision.

At the time of Russia's full-scale invasion, Shevchenko worked in the Ochakiv City Council, where he was responsible for security and video surveillance. According to the SBU, he allegedly acted as an agent of the Russian Federation under the pseudonym "Master", collecting and transmitting information about the situation in the city to the enemy.

Андрій Колісніченко