Photo: facebook.com/a.shyrshyn
Ukrainian law enforcement officers have exposed three active servicemen from a separate assault regiment who allegedly organized a provocation against a former battalion commander, the National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office reported.
The victim in the case is Artem Shyrshyn, former commander of a battalion in Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura”.
According to investigators, the suspects, who previously worked in law enforcement, acted in cooperation with other unidentified individuals.
Drugs allegedly planted in officer’s car
Investigators say the three men illegally monitored Shyrshyn and collected confidential information about him.
During the night of August 27–28, they allegedly entered his car in Kharkiv and planted around 30 packages containing cannabis and PVP.
On August 28, they reportedly provided patrol police with information claiming that the former commander was transporting drugs. Officers stopped his vehicle on Kooperatyvna Street, where the substances were subsequently found during a search.
Suspects face multiple charges
The three servicemen have been formally notified of suspicion under several articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, including illegal entry, unlawful collection of confidential personal information, drug trafficking by prior conspiracy, and inducing the prosecution of a person known to be innocent.
Investigators are preparing a request for their detention.
The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) is handling the investigation under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The case became public in late August after police in Kharkiv stopped Shyrshyn’s vehicle and reported finding drugs. The former “Magura” battalion commander called the incident a planned provocation and said the substances had been planted.
The National Police subsequently promised to immediately verify information from the Military Law Enforcement Service concerning the officer and establish how the information that led to the stop had been obtained.
