The serviceman denied the statehood of Ukraine - the verdict of the Odesa court.

The serviceman was sentenced for refusing to recognize the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine. During a conversation with an officer, he claimed that the conflict is a confrontation between the West and Russia, and Ukraine is a state controlled from the outside. The court recognized his statements as a refusal of aggression and imposed a penalty.

According to the Unified State Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, a soldier from one of the military units in Odesa was sentenced to two years for anti-Ukrainian statements, which were classified as a refusal of Russian aggression.

The serviceman denied the statehood of Ukraine

The incident occurred on December 1, 2023, in a service room. During a conversation with the deputy battalion commander, the serviceman stated that it was not Russia that attacked Ukraine, but the West was waging war against Russia through 'Ukrainian hands'. He described Ukrainians as 'firewood in the cauldron of war' and categorically refused to recognize the statehood of Ukraine.

Audio and video recorded during the unofficial investigative action confirmed that his statements contain signs of a refusal of Russian aggression against Ukraine, including the interpretation of the conflict as an internal dispute and the humiliation of Ukraine's sovereignty.

What punishment

At the court session, the accused did not dispute the facts but claimed that he did not intend to commit a crime. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his beliefs regarding the independence of Ukraine.

According to the probation service's conclusions, he poses a moderate risk to society, and his beliefs are criminalized. However, the court decided that a non-custodial sentence would not be effective. Therefore, the soldier was sentenced to two years in prison, but the Time spent under house arrest will be counted toward his sentence.

He will also be obliged to pay 22,718 hryvnias to the state - this is the cost of conducting a judicial examination.

The news describes the case of the serviceman's conviction for refusing to recognize the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine. The soldier was sentenced to two years for anti-Ukrainian statements in which he refused to acknowledge the statehood of Ukraine. The soldier's expressions were classified as criminalized, and the court imposed a sentence of imprisonment.