Ukraine sentences strike adjuster at Yavoriv training ground

This was reported from the courtroom by an Espreso TV journalist.

Prosecutors proved in court that the Lviv native, a former KGB officer, collaborated with Russian FSB agents after the onset of the full-scale invasion. 

The man coordinated a missile strike on the Yavoriv training ground in the Lviv region on March 13, 2022. Back then, Russian troops launched a massive air attack with about 30 missiles.

Photo: Kateryna Benyuk

Judge Viktor Romaniuk found Kostornyi guilty of treason and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Photo: Kateryna Benyuk

Oleksandr Kostornyi case: background

In June 2022, the SBU exposed a man who was carrying out subversive activities in the interests of the Russian special services. A resident of the Lviv region and former KGB officer passed information about the location of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their weapons. He then sent the collected data (exact locations with markings on the map) to the curator through a specially hidden chat in the Telegram channel. The collected information helped the Russian troops to adjust the fire on the Yavoriv training ground in March 2022. As a result, Oleksandr Kostornyi was notified of being suspected of high treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code).

The man does not consider himself guilty, as he has repeatedly stated. He claimed that he had actually sent his friend a map of the area where he was picking mushrooms. Therefore, his defense insisted on acquitting the defendant. 

Missile attack on the Yavoriv training ground

On the morning of March 13, 2022, Russian troops fired over 30 missiles from Russia’s territory at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in the Lviv region.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine, more than 60 servicemen were killed, and 190 others were injured.