Based on the evidence collected by the SSU, another five traitors who fought against Ukraine’s Defence Forces in Donetsk region have been convicted to prison.

Ukrainian defenders captured them during fierce battles near Bakhmut in July and December 2023.

The court sentenced the militants to 15 years in prison.

The convicted individuals are residents of the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk region and voluntarily joined the russian army in the early stages of the full-scale invasion.

One of them joined the occupation battalion ‘Storm’, which was formed for human wave or so called ‘meat' attacks on Ukrainian positions near the village of Kurdyumivka.

Before that, he took part in seizing Popasna.

According to the SSU Military Counterintelligence, the other four militants joined the 123^rd separate motorized rifle brigade of the russian armed forces.

As riflemen and radio operators, they stormed the defensive positions of Ukrainian troops near Spirne, Bakhmut district.

The militants also built fortifications and were on duty at russian checkpoints in the temporarily occupied areas.

The investigation also revealed that one of the militants had been an artilleryman in the terrorist group ‘LNR’ back in 2015 and had fired at ATO forces near Debaltseve.

The court found the traitors guilty under three Articles of the CCU:

• 111.1, 111.2 (high treason, committed under martial law);
• 258-3.1 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization);
• 260.2 (participation in unlawful paramilitary or armed formations).

The investigation was carried out by SSU Offices in Lviv, Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural supervision of regional prosecutor’s offices.