The Security Service of Ukraine neutralized a criminal organization that terrorized and tried to keep residents of the western regions of Ukraine in fear. This is reported by the press service of the SBU, writes UNN.
As a result of a special operation in Chernivtsi, 5 bandits were detained, including two leaders of this criminal group and a citizen of the Russian Federation who was illegally staying on the territory of Ukraine,
Details
As the investigation established, the defendants extorted money from the victims under false pretenses. Including from mobilized and wounded soldiers, cancer patients and their families. The SBU documented how these attackers demanded 40,000 US dollars from a serviceman of the National Guard and his cancer-stricken friend.
It was established that the racketeers first created an artificial conflict situation with the victims, and then beat them on the head with hammers right in the middle of the street. After that, the cancer patient ended up in intensive care.
In this way, the attackers tried to speed up the transfer of the entire amount of "tribute" to them. In case of refusal, they promised to return, kidnap their victims and torture them. They also threatened to visit their families to commit violence against wives and young children
The Security Service detained the leaders of the gang and their accomplices "red-handed" when they came to pick up the money from the victims.
According to the investigation, the defendants acted as part of a criminal organization headed by a local recidivist. He already has a criminal record for drug crimes and illegal possession of weapons.
Hierarchically, he was subordinated to two more criminal groups, one of which was headed by a citizen of the Russian Federation nicknamed "Russian".
The criminal organization constantly expanded the territory of its crimes and influence in order to cover the entire Bukovyna, as well as Prykarpattya and Khmelnytskyi region.
Currently, SBU investigators are preparing a suspicion for three detained gang leaders and two of its active members under Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (extortion committed by an organized group under martial law, combined with causing grievous bodily harm).
The attackers face 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.