Holding people in a well and beating them with rifle butts: a Russian militant was sentenced in Kherson

A militant of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" was convicted in Kherson, who was on duty at Russian checkpoints during the occupation of Beryslav district, mocking civilians and staging executions. The investigation found that he was involved in the illegal detention of people in a well near the village of Tomaryne and the brutal torture of civilians.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

According to the investigation, on March 21, 2022, in the occupied Tomaryne, the militant, along with other armed representatives of the illegal group, set up a checkpoint on the road between Velyka Oleksandrivka and Beryslav. During the so-called "filtration" they unreasonably stopped a Hyundai Santa Fe with three civilian men in it.

One of the victims said that he did not know the accused before the occupation. That day, he and his friends were heading to Beryslav. Near the turnoff to Tomaryne, they ordered them to stop at a pumping station, allegedly for inspection. According to the victim, it was impossible to refuse, as the Russians opened fire at the cars that did not stop.

The men were taken into the station, their cell phones were taken away and they were held there until the evening. Later, two of them were taken out, after which the victim heard shots and the military saying that his comrades had allegedly already been killed.

Later, the man was taken outside at gunpoint, thrown to the ground and beaten with hands, feet and rifle butts on his head and body. During the beating, the occupiers accused him of sabotage, demanded to know his call signs and explain the purpose of the trip. One of the soldiers even imitated an execution by shooting above his head.

After that, the victim was brought to a sewer where his friends were already there. Before that, the occupiers forced him to give up his smartwatch, gold chain and wedding ring, saying that he would "no longer need these things". The men were held in a damp, cramped sewer underground for several days with little or no food and in inhumane conditions.

The victim also said that the Russian military used their phones and stole property from their car. According to him, among those who beat and detained civilians were natives of the Donetsk region who fought on the side of Russia. During the investigation, the man recognized the accused and confirmed his participation in the beatings and illegal detention of people.

Three days later, the men were taken with bags over their heads to Nova Kakhovka, where they were held in a building that later became known as the SBU building. There were already dozens of beaten military and civilians there. A few days later, the people were taken away and released.

The court found the man guilty of high treason, participation in an illegal armed group and violation of the laws and customs of war. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with confiscation of all his property. In addition, the court satisfied the civil claims of the victims and awarded each of them UAH 300 thousand in moral compensation.

In addition, the convicted person has to reimburse the costs of conducting examinations. The Hyundai Santa Fe involved in the case will be returned to its rightful owner after its location is established.

Also, in Kherson region, a former official of the occupation colony was exposed, who is suspected of torturing prisoners, forced labor and deporting people to Russia. The man personally controlled the work for the occupiers, and those who refused were punished with beatings, isolation and inhumane conditions of detention.

Анна Бальчінос