
An army court docket in Moscow sentenced 5 younger Russians to long jail phrases on terrorism fees for allegedly environment hearth to a helicopter on behalf of Ukraine, government stated Tuesday.
The crowd was once accused of being paid by way of Ukraine’s Protection Ministry intelligence company (HUR) to wreck a Ka-32 seek and rescue helicopter at Moscow’s Ostafyevo Global Trade Airport in April 2024.
HUR later shared a video of the burning plane, claiming the helicopter have been utilized by the Russian army. Russia’s Prosecutor Basic’s Place of business estimated the damages at over 690 million rubles ($8.4 million).
Moscow’s 2d Western Army Garrison Courtroom convicted all 5 defendants of terrorism, with 4 additionally discovered to blame of conspiring to dedicate sabotage. Previous to the helicopter arson, the gang was once additionally accused of receiving 15,000 rubles ($132) to set hearth to a railway relay cupboard within the Moscow area.
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Moscow Courtroom Fees 5 Russians With ‘Terrorism’ Over Helicopter Torching
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Nikita Bulgakov was once sentenced to 18 years in a maximum-security jail, Daniil Yamskov to 17 years and Stanislav Khamidulin and Roman Yakovets to twelve years and 6 months every. Anastasia Mochalina gained 12 years and 6 months in a medium-security jail on terrorism fees, the prosecutor’s workplace stated.
Consistent with the unbiased information outlet Mediazona, Mochalina is two decades outdated, Yakovets is 21 and the opposite 3 males are 22.
Prosecutors had sought 19-year sentences for the 4 males and 13 years for Mochalina.
All 4 males pleaded to blame and requested to be charged with assets harm as an alternative of terrorism. They claimed that they had no longer expressed opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Yamskov reportedly inquiring for to be despatched to combat in Ukraine whilst in pre-trial detention, Mediazona reported.
Mochalina denied involvement within the arson, announcing she most effective allowed the gang to make use of her credit card to make purchases and was once unaware in their plans.
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