In Kyiv, the Security Service of Ukraine has detained the former head of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea’s Republican Committee on Fuel, Energy and Innovation Policy. He collaborated with the enemy after the peninsula’s temporary occupation in 2014.

The ‘official’ obtained russian citizenship immediately after the annexation and offered his assistance to the ruscists. Subsequently, the local gauleiter Aksyonov appointed him as the so-called ‘minister of fuel and energy of the Republic of Crimea’.

In this role, the suspect helped russia’s occupation administration to take control of the peninsula’s strategically important energy infrastructure.

This includes the Simferopol and Sevastopol combined heat and power stations, the Tavriya thermal power station, a network of solar and wind power stations, gas pipelines and gas compressor stations, and oil depots and terminals in Kerch and Feodosia.

Over the two years following his ‘appointment’, the suspect attempted to integrate and ‘re-register’ Crimean energy assets in accordance with the aggressor state’s legislation.

Following his dismissal from the occupation government, he continued to work in the interests of the kremlin regime, heading several local companies in the extractive industry.

The SSU detained the perpetrator in the Ukrainian capital, where he had travelled to attend to personal matters.

During a search of his home, russian passports, bank cards, and documents proving his work for the aggressor state were found.

SSU investigators notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 111.1 of the CCU (high treason).

The suspect is in custody without bail and faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment and confiscation of his property.

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