Russian Military Observers Accused of Intending to Distribute Instruction Manuals for Weapons in Ukraine
Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have accused two Russian military observers of attempting to distribute instruction manuals for rocket launchers, hand grenades, and mines, as well as teaching material concerning modern tank warfare, as reported by Interfax on February 9th.
“On the 2nd of February 2016, our investigation brought a criminal case under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the procedure for transfer of goods, which are subject to State control). The second criminal proceeding was brought under Article 258 with a mark 3 (facilitation of terrorist activity),” the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Vasyl Hrytsak, stated at a briefing in Kiev.
Hrytsak reported that 14 instruction manuals were confiscated from Russian Captain Sergey Kutsenko and Russian Major Alexander Kornik while they were crossing the border between Russia and Ukraine. The servicemen, part of Russia's Joint Center for Control and Coordination mission, were found carrying the materials on January 27th. They are accused of intending to distribute these materials, which is a violation of Ukraine's criminal code.
According to the head of the SSU, investigators will conduct examinations of the materials taken from the Russian officers.
“Currently, we strongly believe, and will demonstrate, that what was stated by the officers of the Russian Army and what they actually do is very different,” Hrytsak noted.