Security Service of Ukraine notifies its former head of suspicion of high treason

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has notified Oleksandr Yakymenko, its former head, of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code, including treason. Yakymenko now leads Russia's punitive bodies in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.

Source: press office of the SSU; the website of the Prosecutor General's Office

Details: At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Yakymenko supported the Russian occupiers and offered them his assistance in the war against Ukraine. For this, he was appointed head of the "state security service in Kherson Oblast", created by Russia. In this "position", he fulfils Moscow's task of spreading the influence of the Kremlin regime and suppressing the resistance movement in the region.

For this purpose, he organises mass repressions against local residents. People are illegally harassed, abducted and brutally tortured.

In his criminal activities, the accomplice of the invaders is "accountable" to personnel officers of the FSB, who coordinate the Russian repressive bodies in the occupied areas.

During the occupation of Kherson, an "official" ordered his subordinates to seize one of the offices in the city centre. In the basement of this building on Teatralna Street, the Russians set up a torture chamber wher they held the illegally detained citizens. There, the confessions of assistance to the defence forces of Ukraine were beaten out of them, and after that, they suggested that the detainees get an "amnesty" for money.

According to the investigation, the head of the occupation body personally recruited eight more traitors to the ranks; they were directly involved in the torture of civilians.

After the liberation of Kherson, the "official" and his henchmen fled to the left bank of the Dnipro River. He is currently hiding there from justice, the SSU notes.

Based on the collected evidence, SSU investigators informed the former general and eight of his accomplices of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, treason committed under martial law, creation of paramilitary or armed formations not provided for by law, and violation of laws and customs of war.

Reminder: On 4 February, a number of politicians who served during the rule of President Viktor Yanukovych and also held Russian citizenship, had their Ukrainian citizenship revoked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  Among them is Oleksandr Yakymenko, the former Head of the SSU.

Background: Oleksandr Yakymenko is a native of Estonia and a citizen of Russia who served in its army.

Yakymenko worked in the SSU as the head of the department in Sevastopol before the annexation of Crimea by Russia. In 2011-2012, he was the head of the State Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast. 

In summer 2012, Yakymenko was promoted to the position of First Deputy Head of the SSU and head of the "K" department, which is responsible for tackling corruption and organised crime. 

In early 2013, Oleksandr Yakymenko, in violation of the law, was appointed Head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Under his leadership, the SSU was involved in the attempts of the-then authorities to suppress the Euromaidan movement.

After Yanukovych fled the country and was removed from his office, Yakymenko also fled to Russia.

Oleksandr Yakymenko was notified of suspicion for his involvement in attempts to suppress Euromaidan; the notifications were issued at least 4 times – in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021.

Yakymenko faced sanctions in Ukraine. 

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