Collaborator Balytskyi received a life sentence in absentia for stealing Ukrainian grain
20.11.2025 - 15:50
The head of the Russian occupation administration in the captured part of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balytsky, was sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia.
As the investigation established, the Gauleiter organized the mass theft and illegal export of Ukrainian grain in the interests of the aggressor country, the SBU reports.
According to the investigation, after capturing part of the territory of the southern region of Ukraine, Balytsky began implementing the Kremlin’s instructions to completely rob local farmers and agricultural companies.
Threatening with weapons, imprisonment and physical violence, the Russians seized the private property of agricultural entrepreneurs, primarily Ukrainian grain.
Then, the occupation “governor” Balytsky ensured the illegal export of the looted products on behalf of the Russian Federation. The main “routes” ran from Mariupol, and then to the ports of Rostov-on-Don or temporarily occupied Crimea with further transportation to the countries of the Middle East.
According to available data, in this way alone this year the Gauleiter organized the theft of almost half a million tons of Ukrainian grain.
Based on the evidence collected by the investigators of the Security Service, the court found Balytsky guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
• Part 8 of Article 111-1 (collaboration);
• Part 3 of Article 27, Part 1 of Article 111-2 (organization in aiding an aggressor state);
• Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 (war crimes committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy).
According to the SBU, Balytskyi already has a criminal record in absentia of 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for organizing a pseudo-referendum against the Russian Federation.
Comprehensive measures are underway to bring the perpetrator to justice for crimes against Ukraine.
Earlier, USM reported that a ship was confiscated from Balytskyi, a Russian protege in the Zaporizhia region.
