Ukrainian Navy Veterans Charged With Treason for Serving russia

Four former servicemen of the Ukrainian Navy military units stationed in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea have been served with a notice of suspicion of treason and desertion.

According to the specialized defense prosecutor's office of the Southern region, these are a rigger of the rigging department of the rigging platoon of a military unit in Yevpatoriya and riflemen of the air assault platoon of the air assault company of a military unit in Feodosiya. The investigation established that the suspects, during the temporary occupation of Crimea in 2014, did not arrive on the continental territory of Ukraine to the designated assembly points of military units.

"Later, having committed desertion, they went over to the side of the occupiers and served in various positions in the armed forces of the Russian Federation," the statement said.

During Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the suspects actively participated in hostilities against civilians, infrastructure and civilian objects. In addition, one of the suspects, a militant of the Wagner PMC, was nominated for the Order of Courage for the destruction of Bakhmut and the murder of Ukrainian citizens between February 2022 and May 2023.

Earlier, the Vinnytsia City Court found a 40-year-old Ukrainian citizen, Captain Denys Podobedov, guilty of desertion and high treason. During the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, Podobiedov refused to comply with the order of his command to transfer to a new place of service. In May 2014, he went over to the enemy's side.

The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv also handed down a guilty verdict to ex-Armed Forces Major Volodymyr Maryin from Feodosia, who, while serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2014, defected to the invaders. He was "promoted" to the rank of lieutenant colonel with the occupiers.

Олеся Ланцман