Law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale scheme, whose participants registered and verified Starlink satellite terminals for money for their further use by the Russian military. The suspects were detained in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, and Kirovohrad regions. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, writes UNN.
Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv regional prosecutor's offices, as well as the Kropyvnytskyi specialized prosecutor's office in the field of defense of the Southern region, individuals were exposed who, for a fee, registered and verified Starlink satellite terminals for subsequent use by the Russian military
According to the investigation, the suspects established contact via Telegram with representatives of the Russian special services or their intermediaries, who paid for the registration of the terminals. They registered the equipment in their own names or involved acquaintances and relatives, after which they transferred the data to the handlers. After verification, the terminals became available for use by the occupation forces.
In Kyiv, two men registered at least 67 terminals for $100 USD per device. Some of them operated in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, providing communication and coordination of actions for the Russian military.
In Zhytomyr, a 33-year-old woman registered a Starlink for UAH 2,000, and later involved three more people to register other terminals, receiving additional remuneration. In addition, she was notified of suspicion of illegal acquisition and storage of a psychotropic substance.
In Mykolaiv region, a 19-year-old student was exposed who registered a Starlink in his own name and planned to register several more terminals through acquaintances.
In Kirovohrad region, an indictment was sent to court against a serviceman who, according to the investigation, for a fee registered Starlink terminals in his own name, as well as in the names of relatives and acquaintances, realizing that they could be used by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The indictment against him has already been sent to court.
All those exposed have been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason). The court chose a preventive measure for them in the form of detention without the right to bail. Illegally registered devices have been blocked.