In Rostov-on-Don, court pronounces verdict against Ukrainian combatant

In Rostov-on-Don, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Vladimir Udovik to imprisonment under the article on participation in a terrorist community, recognizing him as a shooter of the Ukrainian “Aidar” battalion*.

According to the public prosecutors’ version, Vladimir Udovik voluntarily joined the “Aidar” battalion* in December 2017, while staying in the Lugansk Region. There the man was provided with weapons, ammunition, and uniform.

Vladimir Udovik was granted the position of a gunner, an assistant grenade launcher, after which he “participated in hostilities against the military personnel of the LPR (Lugansk People’s Republic),” the court reports in its Telegram channel.

The court found that when joining the “Aidar” battalion*, Vladimir Udovik was aware “of the terrorist nature of the battalion’s activities,” and after his first contract had expired, he “continued to participate in the terrorist community.”

The court took into account the admission of guilt by Vladimir Udovik and his cooperation with the investigators as mitigating circumstances. Therefore, the man was sentenced to a minimum punishment of five years of imprisonment in a penal colony.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in July, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Denis Muryga, the deputy commander of a unit of the Ukrainian “Aidar” battalion*, to 16 years of imprisonment under the article on participation in an illegal armed formation (IAF).

*Recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the territory of the Russian Federation by the court’s decision.