Two Men Sentenced to 15 Years for Railway Sabotage, Ordered to Pay Million-Dollar Damages.

Verdict from the Korosten City District Court

According to TSN.ua: The Korosten City District Court in Zhytomyr Oblast has sentenced two men to 15 years in prison for committing an act of sabotage on the railway by setting fire to a relay cabinet. The perpetrators were also ordered to pay compensation to 'Ukrzaliznytsia', Ukraine's state railway company. This case highlights the ongoing threat to critical infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict.

Case Details

Court materials reveal that both convicted men are local residents who acted on the orders of Russian handlers. For setting fire to the relay cabinet, they received $200 and were offered further work via Telegram in August 2024. To carry out the crime, they purchased 2 liters of A-95 gasoline at an 'OKKO' gas station, which was used to start the fire.

The arson caused an explosion, resulting in one of the men sustaining severe thermal burns. Both arsonists were detained that same evening. The court found one of the men, who had a prior criminal record, guilty under Part 2 of Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 15 years and 6 months in prison. The other convict, a combat veteran, was also found guilty under the same article and received a 15-year prison sentence.

Furthermore, the court ruled that the saboteurs must pay 1,217,525 hryvnias in damages to 'Ukrzaliznytsia', and all their property is subject to confiscation. This verdict concludes the investigation into a crime that threatened the safety of railway operations in the region.

This ruling marks a significant step in combating sabotage activities that pose a threat to the country's critical infrastructure.

The case underscores the necessity of enhanced security measures for railway transport, particularly given current security challenges. The conviction of the accused for serious crimes related to terrorist activity sends a clear signal to other potential offenders about the inevitability of severe punishment for such acts.