School principal in Kherson region campaigned for students to join pro-Kremlin Unarmy

The director of a lyceum in Kherson region was sentenced to 12 years for collaborating with the occupiers. She agitated children to join the Unarmed Forces and promised teachers bonuses.

This is stated in the verdict of the Kherson City Court, which was made public by the Prosecutor General's Office.

In July 2022, after the occupation of the Henichesk district, Iryna Bondar accepted the offer of the occupation authorities to head the so-called Novotroitsk School No. 1 as a state budgetary educational institution of the Kherson region of the Russian Federation. She took part in the implementation of Russian educational standards and ensured the transition to education under the programs of the aggressor country.

As the investigation established, Bondar organized the recruitment of new teachers, the supply of textbooks from a Russian publishing house and started campaigning among schoolchildren to join the pro-Kremlin organization Yunarmiya. In addition, she sent teachers to the occupied Crimea for "advanced training courses" based on Russian programs.

Witnesses in court confirmed that on September 1, 2022, the lyceum resumed its work, but not as a Ukrainian institution. The Russian national anthem was played at the lineup, the building was decorated with Russian flags, and Bondar addressed the audience exclusively in Russian.

Before the start of the school year, she gathered the teachers and asked them to decide whether they would stay and work under Russian law or leave. Those who agreed were promised bonuses of 10 thousand rubles. According to witnesses, she behaved confidently and calmly, motivating the decision with the "need to continue educating children."

Some teachers, including the deputy principal, refused to return to work after the Russian military arrived at the school, as they were scared and did not show up at the workplace. At the same time, Bondar continued to organize the work of the institution under the flags of the Russian Federation. According to another deputy, as early as April 2022, Bondar called her colleagues to find out which of them was ready to work "under the new rules."

The court found Iryna Bondar guilty of aiding the aggressor state and sentenced her to 12 years in prison. She will also not be able to hold positions in government or public service institutions for 15 years.

In addition, the court upheld the seizure of the defendant's property: part of a residential building with outbuildings in Novotroitske, two land plots with a total area of more than 2 hectares. At the time of the verdict, Bondar was wanted, and her actual place of residence is currently unknown.

Also, during the occupation of the village of Burgunka, Beryslav district, the educator headed a school established by the invaders, intimidated fellow villagers and helped to introduce Russian order in the village. After the liberation of the territory, he fled, and the SBU served him with a notice of suspicion in absence.

Анна Бальчінос