Donetsk, Mar 10 — DAN. Two Ukrainian gunmen have been sentenced to prison terms for crimes against civilians in Mariupol, Donetsk People’s Republic, committed in the spring of 2022, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee reported on Friday.
The Supreme Courts of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics delivered their verdicts in three criminal cases against Ukrainian citizens Viktor Pokhozey, Maxim Butkevich (committed the crime in the LPR — eds Donetsk News Agency) and Vladislav Shel, the report said.
Pokhozey, a commander of the “Azov” nationalistic battalion (banned in Russia), beat up a woman on March 23, 2023, kicking her and hitting her with the butt of his assault rifle. In March 2022, Shel fired his assault rifle at an elderly man from his observation post in a residential house, in order to intimidate civilians. He fired at least five shots at the man in the house opposite. The man had the time to take cover which saved his life.
Pokhozey and Shel were found guilty of cruel treatment of civilians and use of banned methods in the armed conflict. Shel was also found guilty of attempted hate murder. Pokhozey and Shel were sentenced, respectively, to 8.5 years and 18.5 years in maximum security prison. *jk