A former police officer who switched sides to Russia during the occupation of the Kharkiv region has been sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison. He is suspected of directing "Iskander" missiles at the village of Groza.
This was reported by RBK-Ukraine with a link to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office.
According to the prosecutor's office, the court found the former police officer guilty of treason. He has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property and a three-year prohibition on holding positions related to the functions of the state in law enforcement agencies.
It is known that during the occupation of the Chkalovsk settlement territorial community, the convicted individual worked in the police and voluntarily collaborated with the Russians. The occupiers provided him with a firearm and a vehicle marked with the letter "Z".
The man also attempted to form a group to collaborate with the enemy. He showed Russian military personnel locations for better tactical and strategic positioning of enemy artillery and other equipment in the area to prevent the advance of Ukrainian forces.
In the summer of 2022, he was appointed as the "head of the criminal investigation department" in the pseudo-law enforcement agency of the occupiers in the village of Shevchenkovo in the Kupiansk district. There, he oversaw the department's activities, detained local residents, and personally interrogated them.
"Since the convicted individual is currently evading Ukrainian justice on the territory of the Russian Federation, the term of his sentence will start from the moment of his actual detention. While he is evading the sentence imposed by the court, the statute of limitations is suspended," the statement said.
It is also worth noting that the convicted individual and his brother are suspected of directing a missile at a café in the village of Groza.
Recall that on October 5, 2023, Russians struck the village of Groza in the Kharkiv region. At that time, the enemy hit a café and a store where a memorial service for a fallen soldier was taking place.
On October 11, SBU exposed two "Iskander" missile spotters who targeted the village. They turned out to be two brothers who switched sides during the occupation of the village and relocated to Russia with their families.
As a result of the missile strike in the village of Groza, 59 people died. On October 12, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Igor Klymenko, stated that the police had identified all the victims.