Court has sentenced russian tankers who shelled hospital in Trostianets to 11 years in absentia based on SBI materials (VIDEO)

The court sentenced in absentia two кussian servicemen who had fired a tank at Trostianets hospital in Sumy region for up to 11 years in prison.

During the investigation, SBI employees found that during the temporary occupation of a part of Sumy region, on 18 March 2022, russian military personnel shelled Trostianets city hospital from a tank. By doing so, they violated the requirements of European regulations on the protection of civilians.

The order to fire on the hospital was given by junior sergeant Petro Smirnov, a tank commander of the 1st tank platoon of the 5th tank company of the 2nd tank battalion of the 1st Guards Tank Regiment "Chertkivsky" of the 2nd Guards Taman Motorised Rifle Division.

Private Aynur Mukhametkhanov, who was the tank's operator gunner, executed the criminal order.

Approaching the hospital, the junior sergeant ordered Mukhametkhanov to fire a 125 mm high-explosive fragmentation shell at the medical facility. Both medical staff and patients, including pregnant women, came under fire. Right at the time of the attack of the hospital, one of the women in labour was giving birth to twins.

On 9 May 2023, the Trostianets District Court found junior sergeant Smirnov and private Mukhametkhanov guilty of violating the laws and customs of war (Article 438(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Both russian servicemen were sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The court also ordered the aggressor country to pay damages caused by the inhumane actions of its military personnel.

As the whereabouts of the defendants are currently being established, they were tried in a special court proceeding in accordance with the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

The Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office provides procedural guidance and support to the public prosecution.

While fleeing Sumy region, russian soldiers abandoned their tank. The Armed Forces of Ukraine repaired it and today it is "taking revenge" on the battlefield on the occupiers for their crimes.