Accordingly, the two people sentenced include Viktoria Shinkaruk, a former inspector at Russia’s Belgorod provincial administration, and Alexander Kholodkov, a plumber who assisted Ms. Shinkaruk. Russian law enforcement officials said the two defendants used online messaging applications to contact contacts in Ukraine.
Both were convicted of participating in a terrorist group, illegally possessing explosives, smuggling explosives and preparing to commit an explosion or act of terrorism.
Police patrol of the Russian Federation
Prosecutors said that in September 2022, these two people received money from Ms. Shinkaruk’s ex-husband who lives in Ukraine. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said the money was used to prepare for the attack. At the trial, Ms. Shinkarchuk’s lawyer said her client received 107,000 rubles (more than 1,000 USD) from her ex-husband, then transferred it to a third person. Russian media said the third person mentioned above was later identified as a double agent of the FSB, blending into Ukrainian agencies and posing as a Kyiv supporter.
According to TASS, accomplice Mr. Kholodkov assisted Ms. Shinkaruk by hiding explosive devices and Mr. Kholodkov also received 400,000 rubles. Both defendants said they were trapped and did not know what the money was used for. Both were arrested in November 2022.
Ukraine has not yet commented on the above information.
Meanwhile in Ukraine, on December 19, the country’s authorities arrested a commander of the 211th Brigade named Oleg Poberezhnyuk, accused of abusing subordinate soldiers and corruption, AFP reported. The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said that in 2023, Mr. Poberezhnyuk sent four subordinates to build his own house instead of letting them serve in combat areas. Mr. Poberezhnyuk was also accused of covering up his godson – who was accused of bullying and blackmailing teammates.
