Odesa resident convicted in Chernihiv for arson ordered by Russia

The Novozavodsk District Court of Chernihiv found the citizen guilty of high treason and destruction of property by arson.

According to the court' s verdict, before setting fire to the Administrative Services Center in Kriukivka, Chernihiv region, the convict set fire to two transformers in a village in Odesa region.

In total, he earned a little over $1,000 for these arsons - $45 and $48 for the transformers and $975 for the ASC, through the window of which he threw two Molotov cocktail bottles.

The man was recruited by the Russian special services in November 2025 via Telegram, and in the same month he burned the transformers, and on November 25 he moved to Chernihiv region. He recorded the arson of the ASC on video, which was found by Ukrainian law enforcement. Immediately after his arrest, the convict pleaded guilty, but only to arson. At the trial, he and his defense lawyer asked for an acquittal on the charge of treason, due to the lack of evidence of this criminal offense in his actions.

However, the judges disagreed and sentenced the man to 12 years in prison for high treason and another eight years for arson. The more severe sentence was absorbed by the less severe one, and the final sentence was 12 years in prison with confiscation of all his property, except for his home.

Earlier, the court found another resident of Odesa, Konstantin Kukshtel , guilty of high treason and participation in an illegal armed group during the occupation of Crimea. The verdict is based on a combination of contradictory evidence, some of which was objected to by the defense.

Кирило Бойко