23 May 2026
(PHOTO COLLAGE: Intent)
The Bilyayevsky District Court of Odesa Region found a local resident guilty of a terrorist attack, obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and destroying other people's property by arson.
According to the court's verdict, the man was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
According to the case file, around the end of October 2024, the man was offered to set fire to military vehicles for money, and he agreed. He burned one car and filmed it with his phone. He then completed a number of verification tasks from an unknown employer, which involved preparing arson attacks on administrative buildings, and eventually received a task to set fire to the building of the Mizhlymansk Village Club of the Usativ Village Council in Odesa district. The fact is that the club building was used by the village council to hold plenary sessions. It also houses the local library and the Ukrposhta branch.
The convict set fire to the door of the club. At the trial, he said that he had chosen this institution as an object for arson. These actions were classified as a terrorist attack. He filmed the arson on his cell phone and deleted all data and correspondence at home after reporting.
At the trial, the Odesa resident pleaded guilty to the arson attacks in full. He said that at first he received a job offer as a merchandiser from a stranger, and later he was offered to set fire to the car of the territorial acquisition center. For this, he was promised about $1,000 - he had to film the arson on video. He also repented and apologized to the family of the soldier whose car he burned. As for the club arson, the convict did not agree that it was a terrorist attack. He said he did not know the curator's intentions. By the way, he was never paid for setting the club on fire.
Earlier in Odesa, the case of a car arsonist accused of setting fire to two minibuses ordered through a messenger was sent to court.
Кирило Бойко