Mykolaiv Serviceman Sentenced to 3 Years for Grenade Threat in ATB Supermarket

In Mykolaiv region, a serviceman who threatened to detonate a grenade in an ATB supermarket in September 2024 was found guilty. The man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to imprisonment.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Pervomaisk City District Court.

According to the investigation, the accused is a native of Buznykuvate village, Vilshany district, Kirovohrad region, a citizen of Ukraine, who at the time of the incident was serving in a special forces unit as a senior flamethrower operator. On the night of September 26-27, 2024, between 21:10 and 23:04, he entered the ATB-Market store carrying a GHO-1 hand-held offensive grenade. Demonstrating disregard for others and public order, the man expressed his intention to blow himself and those present.

The store staff and customers called the police. Due to the bomb threat, the supermarket had to close earlier than planned, and the police detained the offender.

During the court hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty to the crime, repented and gave evidence consistent with the indictment. The court classified his actions under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• ч. 1 of Art. 263 (illegal possession, storage, or purchase of explosive devices without a permit);
• ч. 4 of Art. 296 (hooliganism accompanied by special audacity, committed with the use of an object specially prepared for inflicting bodily harm).

The court sentenced him to three years and one month in prison for the aggregate of the crimes. In addition, the defendant must reimburse the state UAH 6,367 for the explosive technical examination.

The defendant will remain in custody until the verdict enters into force. The verdict may be appealed to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 30 days of its announcement.

Earlier, the Mykolaiv serviceman was sentenced for illegal possession of a combat grenade, but the court took into account his service and reduced the sentence. Despite his previous convictions for theft, fraud and drugs, this time he avoided imprisonment, although he could have received up to seven years behind bars. Instead of two years in prison, the court sentenced him to an official restriction with 20% of his salary withheld in favor of the state.

Also in Mykolaiv region, the court seized a weapons cache found in the possession of a resident of the region. According to the investigation, the man was illegally storing explosives and ammunition, for which he faces up to seven years in prison.

Анна Бальчінос