Kherson resident gets 15 years for service in pro-Russian battalion

A resident of Kherson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in a pro-Russian battalion. The man voluntarily joined the armed group and publicly boasted about his activities in the Russian media.

This was reported by the press service of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The court found a 53-year-old resident of Kherson guilty of participating in an illegal armed group, the V.F. Margelov Volunteer Battalion. He was convicted under Part 7 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - collaboration. The Kherson resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of all property and deprived of the right to hold positions in government and provide public services for the same period.

Prosecutors proved that in 2023 the man voluntarily joined the battalion as a radio operator, helping to support Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. In April 2024, he spoke publicly in the Russian media about his participation in the formation. He boasted of his contribution to the combat potential of the occupiers and the so-called raising of the morale of young people.

The verdict was passed in the absence of the accused, so he will serve his sentence after his arrest.

At the end of July, a former law enforcement officer was sentenced to 15 years in Odesa for torturing residents of Kherson region during the occupation. Together with the Russian military and representatives of the occupation authorities, he participated in the detention, intimidation, and systematic beatings of local residents.

In April 2022, together with the occupiers, he detained the head of the village council of Skadovsk district and a local businessman, who were held in the basement of a boarding house, beaten, threatened with death, and shot over their heads, imitating execution.

Also, two former Crimean law enforcement officers are suspected of treason for collaborating with the occupation authorities. One of them is still serving in the structures of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the other was regularly promoted.

Анна Бальчінос