A Ukrainian man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in aiding Russia in targeting a missile strike on a pizzeria in Kramatorsk last year, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals, including novelist Victoria Amelina, and injuring 61 others.
The attack, which occurred on 27 June, also resulted in the destruction of several nearby structures.
According to the prosecutor general's office of the war-torn country, the local resident was recruited by an intelligence operative in the Russia-controlled Donetsk region.
His task was to gather information about the restaurant, a task to which he agreed.
He identified military vehicles and personnel at the site and covertly recorded two videos, which he then sent to his handler on Telegram. Afterward, he attempted to cover up evidence of his actions.
The man was convicted on charges of "confiscation of property for high treason."
Kramatorsk, a city hosting the Ukrainian army's regional headquarters, was a hub for journalists, aid workers, soldiers, and locals, who frequented the restaurant.
In response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian officials have expedited investigations and criminal cases against citizens suspected of aiding Russian forces. More than 6,600 criminal cases have been opened in Kyiv "against individuals for collaboration and other conflict-related crimes" since the war began, as reported by the United Nations.
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