13 Luhansk militants sentenced to 13 years in prison for covering up Russian army's escape from Kharkiv region

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported this on Telegram on February 10.

“As a result of investigative actions, indisputable evidence of the guilt of 13 more militants of the LPR terrorist organization who fought against Ukraine has been collected,” the statement reads.

It is noted that the attackers were captured during a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kharkiv direction. Based on the materials of the Ukrainian special service, the court sentenced them to 13 years in prison.

According to the investigation, the Russian accomplices are residents of the Luhansk region who voluntarily joined the ranks of the invaders' "LPR People's Militia" on the eve of the full-scale invasion.

In this way, they 'responded' to terrorist Pasichnyk's calls for the so-called 'general mobilization' on the temporarily occupied territory of the region.

Four of them are former prisoners who had previously served their sentences in local colonies for committing serious crimes.

After February 24 last year, the 'mobilized' joined the occupation groups of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces and took an active part in hostilities on the eastern front.

Based on the evidence collected by the SBU investigators, the court found the criminals guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

▪️ part 1 Article 111 (high treason);

▪️ part 1, Article 258-3 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization);

▪️ part 2, Article 260 (participation in the activities of armed groups not provided for by law).

The SBU also emphasizes the inevitability of punishment for crimes against Ukraine.