The SSU has collected evidence on another member of russian occupation groupings, who fought against Ukraine on the southern and eastern fronts.

The SSU Military Counterintelligence together with Ukrainian paratroopers captured the militant during combat near Donetsk.

According to the investigation, he, a resident of occupied Makiivka, joined the so-called ‘5^th separate motorised rifle brigade Oplot’ on 24 February 2022.

This is an illegal armed formation of the terrorist organisation ‘DNR’, subordinated to the command of russia’s Southern military district.

In the enemy group, the traitor took an ‘oath of allegiance’ to russia and received camouflaged uniforms, an AK-74 rifle and ammunition.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the ‘rifleman’ participated in the capture of Kherson and in the equipment of occupiers’ firing positions around the city.

He then fought against Ukraine’s Defence Forces near Romanovo-Bulgakove and Mykhailivka in Mykolaiv oblast.

Soon after, the militant was ‘transferred’ to the newly created occupation group - the 3rd motorised rifle regiment - to deter Ukrainian offensive on the eastern front.

The ‘soldier’ was deployed first to the area of Maryinka, and then to Krasnohorivka, Donetsk region.

There, he was later detained by Ukrainian defenders.

SSU investigators have now served him a notice of suspicion under Article 111.1 of the CCU (high treason).

The suspect is in custody, facing up to 15 years in prison.

The investigation was carried out under the procedural supervision of Donetsk Region Prosecutor’s Office.