Ukrainian Navy Officer Defected to the Side of the Russian Federation in 2014: Court Sentenced Him in Absentia.

The participant who defected to the side of the Russian Federation during the annexation of Crimea in 2014 was found guilty of desertion and treason. The court sentenced him to 12 years of imprisonment for these crimes.

According to the Unified State Register of Court Decisions, the chief of physical training and sports of the headquarters of the 1st brigade of surface ships of the naval operations center refused to comply with the order to arrive at the ship 'Slavutych' in Odessa during the annexation of Crimea.

After the capture of the peninsula, he defected to the side of the Russian Federation and is currently serving as the chief of physical training in the Russian Marine Corps.

What the Court Decided

The defendant was found guilty of desertion and treason. The court sentenced him to 12 years in prison.