SBU granted access to accounts of ex-officer from Crimea suspected of high treason

A former Ukrainian officer who disappeared from the service after the occupation of Crimea is at the center of a treason investigation. The court allowed investigators to access his bank accounts to reveal the details of his defection to the enemy and participation in the war against Ukraine.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

The investigating judge granted the request of law enforcement officers and granted temporary access to the bank documents of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of high treason and defection to the enemy. It is a former captain who, according to the investigation, did not return to service in the Armed Forces after the occupation of Crimea and later joined the Russian army.

According to investigators, back in May 2014, the serviceman failed to report to his place of service without good reason after being relocated from the temporarily occupied Crimea. Since then, he has actually evaded his duties and remained in the occupied territory.

Later, according to the investigation, the man received a Russian passport, signed a contract with the armed forces of the aggressor country and made a career in the marines, taking a position related to combat training. Since 2022, he has been participating in hostilities against Ukraine, which, according to law enforcement, harms the sovereignty and defense capabilities of the state. Despite this, the suspect has not officially lost his Ukrainian citizenship.

As part of the criminal proceedings, SBU investigators received permission to access the documents of one of the banks, including information on open accounts, cash flows, personal data, copies of documents and financial phone numbers linked to the accounts. This information is planned to be used to establish additional circumstances of illegal activity and identify the person.

The order will be valid for 60 days. If the bank refuses to provide the information, the court may authorize a search.

The court also found guilty of high treason and desertion a former Ukrainian servicewoman who defected to the Russian special services after the occupation of Crimea. Based on the evidence of the Security Service of Ukraine, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia.

Анна Бальчінос