Mykolaiv Man Sentenced to 15 Years for High Treason and Terrorism

In the Mykolaiv region, a man was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for high treason, collaboration and participation in a terrorist organization. The investigation established that he fought in the ranks of the Donetsk People's Republic and collaborated with the occupiers during the capture of Snihurivka.

This is evidenced by the verdict of the Snihurivka District Court.

The court found the 33-year-old resident of Snihurivka guilty in the absence of treason, collaboration and participation in a terrorist organization. The court sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

According to the investigation, after the beginning of the Russian aggression, the man moved to occupied Donetsk and joined the Sparta battalion of the so-called DNR. His direct commander was a well-known militant Arsen Pavlov ("Motorola").

Between May and November 2022, the suspect participated in the activities of the occupation administration in Snihurivka, assisted the Russian military and facilitated their activities. Witnesses claim to have seen him wearing a Russian officer's uniform at the market in the city, as well as at the occupiers' checkpoints. In addition, he was recorded on video next to the commander of the Sparta.

The defendant's lawyer asked to close the criminal case, citing the lack of evidence of his guilt, but the court found all the charges substantiated.

The man was found guilty under Part 1 of Art. 258-3 (participation in a terrorist organization), Part 2 of Art. 111 (high treason) and Part 7 of Art. 111-1 (cooperation) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The verdict can be appealed to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 30 days.

Also, the State Bureau of Investigation has announced suspicion to four former Ukrainian military officers who, after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, went over to the enemy and joined the Russian army. They face up to 15 years in prison for treason.

In addition, a 28-year-old resident of Mykolaiv region was served with a notice of suspicion in absence, who in 2022 joined the Kherson Street propaganda project in temporarily occupied Kherson. She participated in the destruction of Ukrainian symbols, which the occupiers called "Nazi," for which she faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Анна Бальчінос