Young men suspected of arson at post office detained in Vinnytsia region

Three young men from the Mogilev-Podilskyi district of Vinnytsia region are charged with involvement in sabotage. The boys are suspected of arson of a Ukrposhta branch in late October.

As reported by the press service of the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office, a fire broke out at the premises of the state-owned enterprise «Ukrposhta» in one of the villages of the Mogilev-Podilskyi district at night. Experts clearly stated that arson had taken place.

The guys are suspected (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) of having «by order» and by prior conspiracy, committed arson at an enterprise that in wartime is of strategic importance for the economy and security of the country, in particular in the implementation of mobilization measures by the CCC and SP units.

One of the suspected young men, looking for a part-time job, found a community with job ads on Telegram. One of them contained an offer with a payment of $1,000 to $5,000 and an active link to an anonymous «employer».

It was from him that the guy received a task for $3,000 to set fire to the premises of military or law enforcement agencies, communications departments, etc. He considered the post office the easiest object for arson. And he involved two comrades in the execution.

The trio recorded their actions on video for reporting to the «customer», from whom they received approximately 36 thousand on the card after the fact. UAH.

The fire was extinguished by the State Emergency Service, no people were injured.

As of today, the court has applied a preventive measure in the form of detention to two of the defendants, and to one – 24-hour house arrest.

Currently, all the circumstances of the crime are being established, including involvement in the organization of sabotage by Russian special services.

The specified crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of fifteen years or life with confiscation of property.

The SBU press service specifies that the 15-16 year old boys study at a local college. In addition to the regional branch of «Ukrposhta», they are involved in setting fire to a relay cabinet on an important railway line.

«After completing both tasks, the Russian special service planned to involve young men in bombings near state institutions in various regions of Ukraine», – the SBU noted. 

Natasha Kumar

By Natasha Kumar

Natasha Kumar has been a reporter on the news desk since 2018. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining The Times Hub, Natasha Kumar worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my natasha@thetimeshub.in 1-800-268-7116