The SBI has completed the investigation of a traitor who participated in the destruction of residential areas in Mariupol

The SBI agents has completed a special pre-trial investigation into the former commander of an engineering support group from Crimea, who defected to the enemy in 2014 and participated in the shelling of Mariupol.

The indictment has been sent to court.

After the occupiers seized the military unit in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the officer refused to relocate to the controlled territory and swore allegiance to the aggressor.

Currently, the defendant serves the occupiers as part of the "international mine action centre of the armed forces of the russian federation". His duties include engineering support for the occupation forces of the russian federation, including the mining of the territory of Ukraine, infrastructure facilities, administrative and civilian buildings.

On the instructions of the occupiers, he uses demining equipment to shell not only the Ukrainian military, but also civilian objects. In particular, according to intelligence, the traitor is behind the use of the UR-77 Meteorite in the urban areas of Mariupol.

His relatives live in the Lviv region. Approximately a month before the full-scale invasion, he warned that he would soon come to "liberate" them together with the russian army. His mother and sister immediately went abroad. His father and grandmother stayed in Ukraine and waited for their "liberator", hiding from enemy missiles.

The former soldier is charged in absentia with treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The article provides for a sentence of up to 15 years' imprisonment.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Specialised Military and Defence Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region.