The SSU has collected evidence against collaborator Roman Khitushchenko, ‘first deputy minister for economic development’ in the occupation ‘government of Crimea’.

In his ‘position’, the official is fulfilling the kremlin’s task of organizing industrial production of combat drones for russian troops.

In June 2023, Khitushchenko joined a ‘working group’ which created a technological base for drone production in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

This includes serial design and manufacture of strike and reconnaissance UAVs.

If the combat drones are successfully tested, they will be sent to the enemy’s frontline positions on the southern front.

The collaborator personally reports to the local gauleiter Aksyonov and ‘reports’ to moscow on the smooth running of this production.

The investigation found that Khitushchenko, a resident of Crimea, had been one of the first to support the occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

For such ‘loyalty’, the invaders included him in their local administration, where he was first appointed ‘deputy minister of economic development’, and in November 2023 – ‘first deputy’.

Since then, he has been involved ‘reformatting’ of Crimea’s economy to meet the needs of russia’s military-industrial complex.

The official is also a frequent guest on russian TV channels, where he actively supports the kremlin regime.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators served Khitushchenko a notice of suspicion in absentia under Article 111-1.5 of the CCU (collaboration).

The suspect is in the temporarily occupied territory. Efforts are underway to bring him to justice.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.