Military commander from DPR detained in Crimea on suspicion of killing a Ukrainian activist in Donetsk
Vadim Pogodin, the commander of the battalion of pro-Russian separatists, Kerch, was detained in the annexed Crimea.
Ostrov web site reported, citing the information in social networks, that Pogodin had been detained in Yalta on June 20th and then sent to the Simferopol pre-trial detention center.
The pre-trial statement issued by of the Yalta City Court, indicates that Kramatorsk police are looking for Pogodin on suspicion of murder (Article 151 of the Criminal Code) and kidnapping (Article 146).
According to the General Directorate of the Ukrainian National Police in Donetsk Oblast, the investigation has found evidence of the involvement of Pogodin and two others in the July 2014 death of a youth team member from the Avangard Kramatorsk football club.
17-year-old Stepan Chubenko participated in rallies in support of the integrity of Ukraine, which were being held in Kramatorsk. During the bombardment, he helped shelter to the elderly and when the city was cut off from the water supply, he carried water to them.
In June 2014, Stepan went to stay with a friend in Kyiv. On June 23rd, he boarded a train in the capital to return home. He was travelling through Donetsk, where he was detained by the fighters from the Kerch battalion for having yellow and blue ribbon on a backpack and killed.
Pogodin was a commander of the pro-Russian separatist’s battalion, Kerch, and used the same call sign. He participated in battles in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and at the Donetsk airport.