Two Ukrainian nationals sentenced to 23 and 24 years in prison respectively over assassination attempt on Russia-installed ‘deputy governor’ of Kherson region

Russia’s Southern District Military Court has sentenced two Ukrainian nationals Yury Domanchuk and Vitaly Skakun to 23 and 24 years in a penal colony respectively over charges of attempting to assassinate the “deputy governor” of the occupation “authorities” of the Kherson region, Vitaly Bulyuk, Russia’s state news agency TASS reports.

The prosecutor requested both men be imprisoned for life.

On 12 December 2022, Bulyuk was injured following a car explosion.

“He is in stable, moderate condition. The car driver died instantly. A claymore mine went off, the car burnt down,” the occupation “government” representative said back then.

According to the investigation, Skakun and Domanchuk bought the MOH-50 explosives and Makarov pistols, and then spent several months preparing the attack. The operation was allegedly supervised by the Security Service of Ukraine lieutenant colonel, Pavlo Savitskyi.

“On Savitskyi’s orders, Domanchuk gave Skakun the mine, which the second installed near the house of the deputy governor. On 12 December 2022, Skakun and Domenchuk were surveilling Bulyuk, when he exited his house and went to the car. Then, Skakun activated the explosives,” TASS reports.

A separate criminal case was initiated against Savitskyi; his location is unknown.