Russian-controlled militants captured in Kharkiv Oblast imprisoned for 15 years

DENYS KARLOVSKYI – WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2022, 18:22

Nine militants from a Donetsk-Oblast-based illicit formation were captured during hostilities in Kharkiv Oblast and sentenced to 15 years in prison by a court in Poltava Oblast.

Source: Artem Dehtiarenko, spokesman for the Security Service of Ukraine, during a press briefing; Inna Usova, spokeswoman for the Security Service of Ukraine directorate in Poltava Oblast, in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Dehtiarenko: "According to the information obtained by the Security Service of Ukraine, nine militants of the so-called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ who were fighting against Ukraine were sentenced to 15 years in prison. The culprits were detained in the course of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast."

Details: The convicts joined the illicit formation at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. They were issued Russian military uniforms and weapons, and sent to the territory of Kharkiv Oblast.

They took part in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Ukraine; in particular, they performed combat engineering tasks to establish the positions of the occupying forces and  kept watch at Russian checkpoints.

The militants were arrested under the articles of "Treason" and "Illicit formation of armed units".

According to Usova, the court hearings took place recently.

Earlier: On 7 June, Ivano-Frankivsk City Court handed down a 15-year prison sentence to four Donetsk Oblast residents who sided with Russia and were arguing for the legitimacy of Russian aggression in Ukraine.