In Russia, captive Ukrainians from Azov, among whom are female cooks, are being “tried”. The prosecution requested from 16 to 24 years

Debates in the case of 24 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian Azov regiment began in the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation asked for 16 to 24 years of imprisonment for the accused, for all men – in institutions of strict regime.

Nine accused are women. Two Ukrainians have already been exchanged, so they are being tried in absentia. The case against the driver Oleksandr Ishchenko, who, as established by a Ukrainian forensic medical expert, was killed in a Russian pre-trial detention center was also dismissed.

The eight women who ended up on the dock in Rostov worked as cooks and prepared food for the military. Some were captured in Mariupol, others were detained during “infiltration” when they tried to leave the Russian-occupied city after heavy fighting in the spring of 2022.

None of the defendants are charged with any war crimes, “all of them are being tried for the mere fact of serving in the Ukrainian Azov regiment, as the Supreme Court of Russia declared it a terrorist organization in 2022.”

Nina Bondarenko is 40 years old, she is one of the cooks of “Azov” and the mother of two minor children. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code.

Oleg Mizhgorodskyi is a former commander of the “Azov” automobile platoon, retired from service in 2021 with the rank of lieutenant. Under two articles, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

35-year-old Yaroslav Zhdamarov served in “Azov” as a sapper and dog trainer in 2015-2019. He was sentenced to 16 years on three counts.

Junior sergeant Oleksandr Merochenets is 25 years old, he was the commander of a grenade platoon, he is charged with all three articles. The prosecutor’s office asked for 23 years of imprisonment for him.

Nikita Timonin is 28 years old, he is a sniper-grenade thrower, he was sentenced to 22 years under the same three articles.

Since 2020, 25-year-old Vladyslava Maiboroda has served as a cook at Azov. She left Azovstal on March 17, 2022, and was detained by the Russian military in April of the same year. On two counts, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

40-year-old Liliya Rudenko worked as a cook at “Azov” and has two minor children. According to two articles, 19 years in prison were requested for her – the most severe punishment for a woman in this process.

Oleksiy Smykov (left) and Oleksandr Mukhin. 31-year-old Oleksandr Mukhin served in “Azov” in 2017-2018 before his release as a senior soldier. He was detained in the spring of 2022. Accused of all three articles, 22 years of prison were requested for him.

Oleksiy Smykov is 27 years old, he was a sniper, a mortar gunner, a machine gunner and a diver radio operator in “Azov” at various times. He is charged with three articles, the requested term is 23 years in prison.

50-year-old Natalia Golfiner was at Azov until January 2022 and was the head of the food department. Under two articles, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Oleg Zharkov is 52 years old, and, unlike the other men on the dock, he was a freelance handyman at Azov. Despite this, he was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison under two articles.

Artem Grebeshkov is a 33-year-old former contract worker from Azov. Has a minor daughter. The requested term is 23 years, he is charged with three articles.

Marina Tekin is 34 years old and has a minor daughter. She worked as a cook at “Azov”. Under two articles, she was sentenced to 16.5 years in prison.

Olena Avramova was one of the cooks of “Azov”, now she is 51 years old. The requested period under two articles is 17 years.

Oleg Tyshkul is a 55-year-old lieutenant, a former instructor of “Azov”, he served in the regiment until 2021. He was offered the maximum term – 24 years. Tishkul is charged with three counts.

Artem Grebeshkov from “Azov” was dismissed in 2021 due to incomplete official compliance.

22-year-old Artur Gretsky is a soldier, an armored personnel carrier gunner, who joined Azov two years before the full-scale invasion. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison on three counts.

Lilia Pavrianidis is 29 years old, Irina Mogytych is 42. Both were cooks at Azov, and Mogytych resigned on February 12, 2022 – shortly before the start of a full-scale invasion by Russian troops. Pavrianidis was sentenced to 17 years in prison, Mogytych – 16.