The Ukrainian Security Service has opened criminal proceedings against former military servicemen who defected to the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), the Security Service said on its Web site on Thursday, Aug. 28.
In particular, Security Service investigators in Luhansk region have opened criminal proceedings against a 31-year-old resident of Severodonetsk, who served under a contract with the Ukrainian Interior Forces until the end of February 2014. It has been determined that he joined the Southeast Army of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) in June or July.
“After Severodonetsk’s liberation, the former serviceman was detained. Criminal proceedings have been opened against him under Ukrainian Criminal Code Article 258-3 Part 1 (involvement in activities of a terrorist group or terrorist organization). The detainee is facing eight to 15 years’ imprisonment,” the Security Service said.
Another former Interior Forces serviceman is suspected of fighting for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, it said.
“It has been determined that a 22-year-old man born in Mykolaiv region served for Interior Ministry forces. He left for Donetsk on his own initiative in spring 2014. Along with others, he was sent to Sloviansk to take part in military activities against the anti-terrorist operation forces,” it said.
Security Service investigators in Mykolaiv region have started criminal proceedings into this fact under Ukrainian Criminal Code Article 258-3 Part 1.
