The SSU has collected evidence on another 4 traitors who joined russian occupation groupings and fought against Ukraine’s Defence Forces on the Eastern front.

In 2022, they voluntarily joined the units of the Southern military district of the russian armed forces and then actively participated in the battles in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts.

In November this year, all four militants were taken prisoner by Ukrainian defenders.

One of them is a member of the occupiers’ newly created assault unit – Storm-Z.

Before joining the army, the man was serving a sentence in a penal colony in the temporarily occupied Crimea. While in jail, the prisoner signed a contract with the russian MoD in exchange for his release and went to fight near Volnovakha, Donetsk region.

Another militant is a resident of the captured town of Rovenky in Luhansk oblast. With the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, he was ‘mobilized’ to the occupation 206th regiment of the aggressor’s 2nd army corps. As a member of this unit, he equipped fortifications on Kharkiv direction.

Later, the militant was sent to Bakhmut. There, along with Wagner mercenaries, he tried to hold firing positions during Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Another traitor joined the invaders’ ranks before russia’s full-scale aggression. After completing a week-long ‘course’ in combat training, he was deployed to storm Sievierodonetsk’s outskirts and then - to Lysychansk area, where was ambushed by Ukrainian troops.

The fourth suspect served in the 3rd motorized infantry battalion of the 3rd brigade of the russian occupation troops. As a member of the enemy unit, he guarded russian ammunition depots near Soledar on Bakhmut direction.

SSU investigators have notified all four militants of suspicion under Article 111.1, 111.2 of the CCU (high treason). The files of the proceedings have been sent to the court. The suspects are facing life imprisonment.

The investigations were carried out by the SSU Offices in Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural supervision of Donetsk Region Prosecutor’s Office.