Mykolaiv Court Detains Former Gas Company Head for Aiding russia

A Mykolaiv court has imposed a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention on the former head of a local company suspected of collaborating with the Russian occupation administration. According to the investigation, he contributed to the creation of an occupier-controlled enterprise and organized the removal of property from it.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

The court granted the request of the investigation and the prosecutor's office to impose a preventive measure in the form of detention on a citizen of Ukraine, a native of Sevastopol, who is suspected of aiding the aggressor state.

According to the investigation, the man, who previously headed the Kherson Main Gas Pipeline Department, voluntarily cooperated with the Russian occupation administration after the occupation of the region. Representatives of the occupation authorities decided in favor of the aggressor state to forcibly seize the material assets of JSC Khersongaz and the industrial site of Zaporizhzhia LPG of LLC GTS Operator of Ukraine.

A man who, at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC Khersongaz at the time of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was appointed the head of the illegal enterprise Khersonoblgaz by voluntary consent.

In October 2022, the suspect, together with the management of the so-called Khersonoblgaz, organized the illegal export of vehicles, computer equipment and equipment of the enterprise to the occupied part of the region.

In addition, the suspect facilitated the creation of a Russian-controlled enterprise and the introduction of ruble payments in Kherson. The total losses from such actions are estimated at over UAH 6 million.

Currently, the suspect is hiding from the investigation and is on the territory of the temporarily occupied Skadovsk. Taking into account the gravity of the crime, the court imposed on him a custodial detention without the possibility of bail.

The suspect faces 10 to 12 years in prison under Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - aiding the aggressor state.

In addition, the head of one of the territorial communities that justified Russia's aggression against Ukraine will be tried in Mykolaiv region. During conversations with her colleagues and friends, the official repeatedly called the war an "internal conflict," justified missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, and denied crimes committed by the Russian military.

Recently, the Central District Court of Mykolaiv ordered the seizure of the property of a suspect who had been disseminating information about the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The suspect used three phones to transmit data about the military.

In addition, Vadym Novynskyi, a former MP from two banned pro-Russian parties, was notified of suspicion of treason and incitement to religious hatred. The former MP, who is the owner of the SMG Mykolaiv Shipyard, is accused of spreading pro-Russian ideology and helping to preserve the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

Анна Бальчінос