Mykolaiv Official Faces Trial for Justifying Russian Aggression

The head of one of the territorial communities, who justified Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, will be tried in Mykolaiv region.

According to the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, during conversations with colleagues and acquaintances, the official repeatedly called the war an "internal conflict," justified missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, and denied crimes committed by the Russian military.

She faces up to 8 years in prison under the article on justifying Russian aggression committed by an official.

The case was investigated by police investigators together with the SBU, and the indictment has already been submitted to the court.

It should be noted that the prosecutor's office did not disclose the name of the accused head of the community, but earlier the Mykolaiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office released a fragment of a conversation between the head of the Kutsurub community, Inna Kopiyka, and her subordinates. In the recording, the official justified the actions of the Russian military and praised the Kremlin authorities.

"We will be glad that Russia came here. Wherever Russia enters, remember, they will leave you with your houses, land, and everything. Everything else will be destroyed. Just demolished. There will be no Ukraine, only a handful of land," the official said.

Law enforcement officers detained the official and notified her of suspicion of justifying, recognizing as lawful and denying Russian aggression against Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

Inna Kopiyka has been the head of the community since 2016, after being elected as a result of the decentralization reform. Prior to that, she twice headed the Kutsurub village council. It is also known that Inna Kopiika is the ex-wife of Ihor Kopiika, a former deputy of the Mykolaiv City Council from the OPFL.

It is worth adding that the Kutsurubska community, headed by Inna Kopiyka, is regularly subjected to enemy shelling. The main attacks are carried out by FPV drones, artillery and "Shahed" type kamikaze drones launched from the occupied Kinburn Peninsula.

Андрій Колісніченко