Ukrainian Security Service arrests LPR militant during special operation in Donbas
The counterintelligence branch of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has brought a militant from the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) into Kyiv-controlled territory and arrested him in a special operation. The SBU’s press service reported that the detainee was wanted for suspected involvement in a terrorist organization and for violating the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.
The detainee, a resident of the Luhansk province between 2014-2015, was actively involved in the armed resistance to the forces of Ukraine’s Anti-Terrorist Operation and in the fighting around Debaltseve in particular. He subsequently worked at LPR checkpoints near Sorokyne, and in September this year he did military service in the LPR Customs Committee.
Urgent investigative activities are currently underway in order to have him arrested as an interim measure for committing the crimes described in Part 2 Article 110 (violation of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine) and Part 1 Article 258-3 (creating a terrorist group or terrorist organization) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.
Previously, Ukrainian intelligence operatives captured Vladimir Tsemakh, a former anti-aircraft commander of the Donetsk People’s Republic’s “Sloviansk Brigade”, in a special operation in occupied territory. During the operation, one Ukrainian operative was killed by an anti-infantry mine, and another lost a leg.
On June 29, Tsemakh was placed under arrest, which lasted 60 days, until he was released on his own recognizance on September 5. On September 7, he was handed over to Russia as part of a “35 for 35” prisoner exchange.
Australia, the Netherlands and several members of European Parliament asked Ukraine not to include Tsemakh in the prisoner exchange due to his importance as a witness in the MH-17 case. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Dutch investigators were able to question Tsemakh before his release. After the prisoner swap, the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service sent Russia a request to extradite Tsemakh.