In Lviv, a 19-year-old native of Chernivtsi region, who is temporarily residing in the city, has been notified of suspicion of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, as well as of intentional damage to property by arson. This was reported under the procedural guidance of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, at the end of August this year the suspect was looking for work via the Telegram messenger and received an offer, for a monetary reward, to set fire in Lviv to cars belonging to military personnel. He was promised 3,000 US dollars for carrying out the tasks.
The investigation established that, following the client’s instructions, the man was to look in Lviv for vehicles bearing military insignia or identification marks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 26 August, near Masaryk Street, he noticed a Mercedes-Benz Vito with a military number plate, photographed and filmed it, and sent the materials to the client for approval of the arson. After receiving approval, the suspect bought petrol at one of the local filling stations, returned to the vehicle, poured petrol over the windscreen and set it alight with a lighter, recording the arson on video as proof that he had carried out the task.
In addition, according to the investigation, the very next night on Ohirkova Street in Lviv he set fire to a Jeep Grand Cherokee bearing insignia and stickers of AFU units. This time the young man poured a pre-prepared flammable substance into the air intake and ignited it, then, having made sure the fire had taken hold, fled the scene.
The man was detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. A preventive measure in the form of remand in custody with the possibility of bail has already been imposed on him. The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine Office in Lviv region and Police Department No. 1 of Lviv District Police Directorate No. 1 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv region. The suspicion has been notified under Part 1 of Article 114-1 and Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt has been proven in the manner prescribed by law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.