Juvenile saboteur from Mykolaiv region sentenced for sabotage

The teenager from Mykolaiv region agreed to fulfill the tasks received via messenger, which included sabotage. He pleaded guilty, agreed to compensate for damages and was sentenced.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Pervomaiskyi City District Court of Mykolaiv Region.

According to the investigation, on May 3, 2024, the guy received a message from another user through his Telegram account who offered him to perform a series of destructive actions for a monetary reward. The tasks included: writing slogans "the collapse of the regime is coming soon" ($200), the same inscriptions on the buildings of the TCC ($600), setting fire to a forest ($500) and setting fire to a railroad relay cabinet ($1000).

The minor agreed and completed one of the tasks. First, he made an inscription on the wall, filmed the process and sent it to the customer. Then he agreed with two other residents of Voznesensk, one of whom was a minor, and together they planned to set fire to the relay cabinet. After purchasing fuel and lubricants, the offenders poured them on the cabinet and set it on fire, and filmed the process to send it to the coordinator as proof of the task.

The defendant pleaded guilty and agreed to compensate for the damage caused to Ukrzaliznytsia, which totaled more than UAH 234,000. Of this amount, UAH 62,250 has already been paid jointly with other defendants in the case.

The court approved the plea agreement and sentenced him to 5 years in prison. However, taking into account his age, guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and the obligation to compensate for damages, the court released him from serving his sentence with a probationary period of three years. The seizure of his cell phone, bank card and other items was canceled.

In October of this year, a series of fires were reported at transformer substations in the Kryvoozerska community. The investigation found that these were deliberate arsons, involving four teenagers from the Pervomaisky district, aged 14-15. They acted on the instructions of Russian special services, receiving tasks via messenger.

In the partially occupied frontline Mykolaiv region, the SBU has repeatedly detained teenagers involved in sabotage, including vandalism and arson of infrastructure and military vehicles.

Анна Бальчінос