Participants in the assault on the Ukrainian Navy corvette “Khmelnytskyi” were informed of suspicion

Three members of the “Volunteer People’s Brigade “Rubizh”” are suspected of seizing the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters and storming the corvette “Khmelnytskyi”.

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol reported this.

Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor’s Office of the autonomy, three fighters of the “Volunteer People’s Brigade “Rubizh”” were notified of suspicion. Their actions were qualified as participation in the activities of an armed formation not provided for by law, an attack on institutions (Part 4 of Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), an encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (Part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and high treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

In February 2014, the suspects voluntarily joined as fighters in one of the units of the IDF “Sevastopol Self-Defense”. During the active phase of the occupation of Crimea, they participated in the blockade and seizure of military facilities, were on duty at checkpoints set up in Sevastopol and carried out a checkpoint regime, checked citizens’ documents, conducted searches of vehicles, etc.

In particular, together with the personnel of the “Sevastopol Self-Defense Force”, the suspects guarded polling stations and ensured the holding of an illegal “Crimean referendum” in Sevastopol on the peninsula’s accession to the Russian Federation.

Later, together with other “self-defense forces”, being armed, they participated in the forcible seizure of the Headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy Command and assisted Russian servicemen in the assault on the Ukrainian corvette “Khmelnytsky”.

For these actions, the suspects face up to 15 years in prison.

Earlier, USM reported that two officers of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy were reported on suspicion of ill-treatment of the civilian crew of the vessel “Sapphire”.