Two marines were tried in Mykolaiv region, but the court released them from prison

In the Mykolaiv region, two marines - a deputy commander of an airborne assault company and a sailor - were tried for threatening a man with a demonstration of weapons.

This is stated in the verdict of the Berezneguvata District Court of September 24.

According to the case file, the incident occurred on June 25, 2024, on the road between Snihurivka and Bereznehuvate. The soldiers were driving a Subaru Forester when a stone flew out from under the wheels of an incoming Gazelle and broke the windshield of their car.

The marines stopped the driver of the Gazelle, using an air pistol and a starter pistol that looked like military weapons, and threatened him with violence. The threats and the display of weapons forced the driver to transfer UAH 2380 to his bank card as compensation for the damaged glass.

In court, both defendants denied the threats and claimed that they kept the guns pointed at the ground and that the driver offered the money voluntarily. However, investigators and evidence, including the inspection of the scene and photographs, confirmed the fact of coercion, which led to the military being charged with a criminal offense.

The court found them guilty under Part 2 of Article 355 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced them to 3 years and 3 months in prison, but released them from serving their sentences with probation for 2 years. The defendants' obligations include periodic registration with the probation authorities and notification of changes of place of residence, work or study.

The victim's claim was partially satisfied: the two soldiers must jointly pay UAH 2,380 in property and UAH 20,000 in non-pecuniary damage, as well as UAH 1,893.20 in ballistics costs to the state. The pistols were confiscated as tools of the crime, and the cell phone was returned to the victim.

The verdict can still be appealed in the Court of Appeal within 30 days.

Ірина Глухова