The SSU Counterintelligence continues to expose and prosecute members of illegal armed groups active in the East of Ukraine. The SSU has established the identity of a commander of a sabotage and reconnaissance group that took part in the hostilities against the ATO forces in Volnovakha district of Donetsk region in 2014-2016.

The SSU established that the saboteurs’ commander is a native of Donetsk, which is in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. He joined the militants in July 2014 and underwent a course of combat and special training.

Currently, the identified commander is hiding from justice in the temporarily occupied territories.

It was established that this enemy group included professional snipers, who were trained by Russian instructors. According to investigation, they carried out targeted fire attacks against Ukrainian positions near Bohdanivka, Petrivske, Starognativka and Viktorivka.

In addition, the scouts collected intelligence on deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine units in the region to pass it to Russian special services.

Following the SSU investigation, the court found the commander guilty of a crime under Article 258-3.1 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization) of the CCU and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The convict has been declared a wanted criminal.

The SSU Office in Rivne region conducted the pre-trial investigation under the supervision of Rivne Region Prosecutor’s Office.