Sanctioned "Minister of Health" of Kherson region sentenced to ten years in prison

The first "Minister of Health of the Kherson region" appointed by the Russian occupiers, 58-year-old Vadym Ilmiyev , was found guilty of collaboration.

According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, in the spring of 2022, Ilmiev headed the occupation health department of Kherson region, which the Russians later renamed the "ministry."

Witnesses, heads of medical institutions in Kherson, told the court how Ilmiev threatened them with death and forced them to cooperate with the enemy.

"At the end of May 2022, I was summoned to the regional council, where I saw Ilmiev. He said that he was the 'minister' of health and that it was necessary to prepare medical institutions for the transition to work under Russian law. In case of refusal, he threatened me with physical violence, saying that the Russians would take me to the basement and possibly even kill me," the witness, who headed the Kherson City Dental Clinic in 2022, told the court.

The general director of the Kherson City Clinical Hospital named after E. Karabelesh said in court that Vadym Ilmiev demanded that the institution be turned into a military hospital for the Russian occupiers.

"Vadim Ilmiyev personally threatened me that in case of sabotage or non-constructive work with the Russians, I would be arrested, taken to Simferopol to a prison where I would be abused and tortured," the media quoted the witness as saying in the court's verdict.

Therefore, the Khadzhibeysky District Court of Odesa sentenced Ilmiev in absentia to ten years in prison with confiscation of all property. Before that, by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, Ilmiev was sanctioned by Ukraine for his involvement in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from the TOT of Kherson region.

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