Investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine reported about the suspicion of the woman who made an attempt on the life of volunteer and public figure Serhiy Sternenko. She is accused of committing high treason under martial law, as well as attempted murder for selfish reasons, committed on the order and as part of a group of persons with a prior conspiracy.
The detainee turned out to be a 45-year-old native of Odesa region who lived in Kyiv. According to the investigation, at the end of last year, she was recruited by Russian special services through online channels, when she was looking for opportunities to make quick money. At first, she performed intelligence tasks: she monitored transport, photographed it and transmitted the collected data to her liaison.
Later, the woman was assigned more difficult tasks. She received instructions on how to make an improvised explosive device, and also changed her place of residence, moving to an apartment in the center of the capital. In mid-April, she started following Serhii Sternenko and settled in the same apartment complex where he lived. After some time, she received the coordinates of the hiding place with the PM pistol and cartridges for it.
On the morning of May 1, on the order of the curator, she staged an armed attack near the activist’s house. The attacker already knew the model of Sternenko’s car and the estimated time when he leaves the house. At the moment when the volunteer left the apartment, she opened fire. One of the shots hit him in the leg. The attacker was detained by SBU officers on the spot.
During the search, a mobile phone with evidence of cooperation with the Russian special services was seized from her, as well as parts of an improvised explosive device, which she kept in another apartment.
The Security Service of Ukraine continues the pre-trial investigation and takes measures to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the persons involved to justice. The detainee faces up to 15 years in prison. The investigation is being conducted under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
