The SSU has apprehended another two organizers of the sham referendum held during the occupation of the right-bank Kherson region.

One of the suspects was detained in Mykolaiv, the other – in Chernivtsi oblast. They tried to evade justice posing as internally displaced persons.

After the occupation of Kherson region, both women supported the invaders and joined the occupation ‘election commissions’.

As members of these ‘commissions’, they campaigned calling the population to ‘vote in favour of the accession’ of Kherson region to russia.

Then, the 28-year-old resident of Chornobaivka gathered a group of ‘like-minded people’ and recorded a video report on the results of the fake vote, which was broadcast on russian TV channels.

The second collaborator went with door-to-door visits to villagers’ homes and collected the ‘necessary’ marks in the ‘ballots’.

She was accompanied by armed invaders who threatened people with prison and confiscation of property if they refused to support the kremlin.

For her cooperation with the aggressor, the woman received a one-time cash ‘reward’ and promises of further ‘prospects’ in the occupation authorities.

After the liberation of the region, both perpetrators fled to different cities in southern and western Ukraine and tried to hide.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 111-1.5 (collaboration, voluntary occupation by a citizen of Ukraine of a position related to performance of organizational, administrative or administrative and economic functions in illegal authorities, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 110.1 (encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability).

The suspects face up to 10 years in prison.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Offices in Vinnytsia and Kherson regions under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.