“I performed various swimming and water recreation techniques, while observing secrecy measures.” The court decided that the St. Petersburg resident tried to swim from Crimea to Odessa to fight against Russia

The Supreme Court of Crimea sentenced a resident of St. Petersburg to six years in a strict regime colony on charges of trying to join an illegal armed formation in Ukraine. This was reported in the press service of the court, without naming the convict.

They clarified that the Petersburger was accused of attempting to illegally cross the border and preparing for high treason.

According to the prosecution, a 40-year-old man contacted volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine via the Internet and agreed with them about his future service in their unit.

After that, the convict allegedly tried to cross the land border with Ukraine in the Bryansk region, but for some reason he did not succeed.

Then the man decided to swim to Ukraine. In the summer, the man came to the Crimea, where he bought a wetsuit, fins, a wrist compass, an underwater lamp, bags made of waterproof fabric and other devices, and on August 6 he began his swim towards Odessa through the Black Sea.

“He had with him a camouflage uniform, berets and other items acquired to go over to the side of the enemy. He performed various swimming and recreational techniques on the water, while observing secrecy measures, evading the possible suppression of his illegal activities by employees of the border authorities of the Russian Federation, ”the press service of the court said in a statement.

Two days later, near the village of Olenevka, Chernomorsky district, the man was nevertheless detained by border guards. The Petersburger was taken aboard a border patrol ship, and then handed over to the security forces. Before Odessa, he had to swim 180 kilometers.

Source: Interfax

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