Law enforcers expose serial arsonist in Odesa region

In Odesa region, a court convicted a saboteur for a series of arson attacks on state and municipal facilities. The perpetrator received instructions via messenger, sent video reports, and received money on an electronic wallet.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Ovidiopol District Court of Odesa Region.

In late September and early December 2024, several arsons of state and municipal facilities took place in Odesa region. According to the investigation, an unidentified person offered to earn money for the arson attacks via a messenger, promising anonymity and the possibility of unimpeded travel abroad in case of danger.

The perpetrator agreed to the terms, received instructions, agreed on the objects and the amount of remuneration. After that, he sent a video report on the work performed and received payment to his e-wallet.

The first case occurred on October 26, 2024, in the village of Novohradkivka, Odesa district: he set fire to an Ukrposhta branch. In early November, similar arsons occurred at the medical center in the village of Marianivka and at the Ukrposhta branch in the village of Baibuzivka. Subsequent arson attacks targeted the Acacia store in Marianivka and the Nova Poshta office in Velykodolynske.

In late November, he set fire to the Administrative Services Center in the village of Dobro Oleksandrivka, and in early December, he set fire to the Pension Fund office in the village of Ovidiopol.

In all cases, the perpetrator used secrecy measures: he chose the dark time of day, dark clothes, gloves and a hood, broke the glass with stones and set fire to the buildings using polymer bottles with a flammable substance. After each arson, he sent a video report and received a reward on his e-wallet.

The amount of material damage to state and municipal institutions caused by the arsons exceeded UAH 500 thousand. The perpetrator's actions are classified as intentional destruction and damage to other people's property by arson under Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

At the trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to arson. He said that he did not have a higher education, earned money by seasonal work in the field, and in September 2024, his common-law wife was pregnant, so he was looking for additional income via the Internet.

According to him, one of the Telegram groups offered him to set fire to the Ukrposhta building for $1,000. After the first arson, he did not want to continue, but after the customer started sending threats, he continued.

The defendant also explained that he tried to minimize the damage: he chose objects with double windows, set fire to only the outer glass, filmed video and tried to extinguish the fire after the arson.

The court found the defendant guilty of arson under part two of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to four years in prison. He is also obliged to compensate for material damage.

At the end of July, a 22-year-old resident of Odesa was also sentenced to five years in prison for setting fire to cars belonging to the Ukrainian military. The man entered into a conspiracy with a representative of the aggressor state via Telegram, who offered money for setting fire to Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicles or vehicles with the symbols of Ukrainian military formations.

Анна Бальчінос