Ukraine's Security Service detains militant trying to flee to Russian-backed Transnistria

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a former militant of the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Vinnytsia Oblast, seeking to flee to unrecognised Transnistria [an unrecognised breakaway Russian-backed state internationally considered to be part of Moldova - ed.].

Source: Press service of the SSU

Quote: "The SSU tracked down another militant of the DPR terrorist organisation, hiding from justice for a long time for his participation in the war against Ukraine.

The offender was detained near the border with unrecognised Transnistria, to which he tried to flee to avoid punishment for his crimes."

Details: The detainee is a resident of the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast.

He joined the so-called Slavic Regiment, a Russian-controlled terrorist group in Ukraine's east, in 2014.

He was engaged in "duty" at Russian checkpoints, pulling over cars of Ukrainian citizens trying to leave the temporarily occupied part of the oblast.

During such "pull-overs", the militants would create artificial pretexts to abduct people and "confiscate" their personal vehicles.

Furthermore, he administered several pro-Kremlin groups on Vkontakte social media, agitating residents of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to join the terrorist DPR.

Shortly before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the man left the ranks of the militants and left for the Ukrainian-controlled territory, where he tried to lay low.

Officers of the SSU established his whereabouts and detained him in one of the border districts of Vinnytsia Oblast.

During the search, the detainee possessed a mobile phone and SIM cards containing evidence of his communication with the DPR militants.

He has now been served with a notice of suspicion under Art. 258-3.1 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organisation).

The offender is kept in custody. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

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