Оfather and son from Zhytomyr, who participated in the illegal armed formations of the so-called “DNR”, have been sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.
According to the report from the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office,
Investigators have established that two residents of Zhytomyr—a father and son aged 68 and 45 years—traveled to the temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk Oblast in May 2014. There, they joined illegal armed formations of the terrorist organization “DNR” and subsequently became fighters in the 4th Battalion “Oplot”.
The son, serving as the deputy commander for logistical support, was responsible for organizing the procurement of food supplies and military equipment. Additionally, he sought to entice residents of Zhytomyr to join the terrorist organization for financial incentives. The father, as the commander of a battalion company, was involved in the illegal supply of weapons and ammunition.
He also ordered his subordinates to open fire towards the positions of law enforcement officers of Ukraine and soldiers of the Armed Forces, particularly in the vicinity of the Donetsk airport.
The Korolev District Court of Zhytomyr found the men guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, facilitating its operations, and participating in an illegal armed formation (part 1 of article 258-3, part 2 of article 260 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
They were sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with the confiscation of all their property.
It is worth noting that the Chechelov District Court of Dnipro is currently reviewing the case of Anatoly Taranenko—a military personnel accused of desertion and returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange in May 2025. According to the investigation, the man switched sides to the occupiers in 2021.
On June 20, the Chechelov District Court of Dnipro placed military personnel Anatoly Taranenko in custody for two months, who was released from Russian captivity in May 2025.