The SSU has collected evidence against six traitors who fought against Ukrainian defenders in Donetsk region. The militants tried to break through our defences on Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions.

This autumn, they were captured during fierce fighting on the eastern front.

This is the second time one of them surrendered to our soldiers. The first time was in 2022, when he was soon exchanged for Ukrainian defenders. This time, the Defence Forces took him prisoner after the ruscists left him alone without ammunition on the battlefield.

Following the SSU’s investigations, the court sentenced the traitors to 15 years in prison.

All the convicted men are residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region who voluntarily joined the troops of the Southern military district of the russian armed forces.

One of them is a former member of the disbanded Berkut special police unit, who joined the russian occupiers in 2014 and took part in battles against the Anti-Terrorist Operation forces.

After the full-scale invasion, he became a reconnaissance unit commander in russia’s 7th motorized rifle brigade. Serving in this post, he took part in the capture of Svitlodarsk and stormed Toretsk.

Another perpetrator is a former employee of Horlivka Locomotive Depot, who signed a contract with the russian ministry of defence in March 2023. After a short course at a training ground in the temporarily occupied Makiivka, he was appointed a machine gunner of russia’s 1st separate motorized rifle brigade and sent to the front line.

Another traitor was captured during a battle near the village of Dachne. At that time, he was a member of the 132nd motorized rifle brigade of the russian armed forces.

Another three fought in the ranks of the 1st ruscist army corps. They attacked Ukrainian positions using kamikaze drones near the village of New York.

Based on the evidence collected by SSU investigators, the court found the militants guilty under two Articles of the CCU:

• 111.1, 111.2 (high treason);
• 111-1.7 (collaboration).

The investigation was conducted by the SSU Offices in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in Dnipropetrovsk region under the procedural supervision of prosecutor’s offices.