On October 11, 2024, the Dzerzhynskyi District Court of Kharkiv sentenced a Russian serviceman to 10 years of imprisonment for threatening to shoot a local resident during the temporary occupation of Izium.

What is known about the suspect

Yangolenko Maksym Valeriiovych (born 08.05.1987) is a native of Voronezh region of russia. A serviceman of the 252nd motor rifle regiment of the 90th guards tank division of the central military district of russia (military unit 91711, Boguchar). He served as commander of a fuel and lubricants supply platoon of the logistics company and held the rank of warrant officer at the time of the crime.

According to statements of other Russian servicemen obtained from the materials of the so-called “military police of Izium”, Yangolenko, after consuming alcohol, would lose control over himself, groundlessly searched for “saboteurs and Nazis”, conducted illegal raids, and took food and alcohol from local residents.

Circumstances of the crime

On the evening of May 2, 2022, at about 22:00–22:30, Yangolenko, being intoxicated, together with a group of subordinates, broke into the yard of the victim. The Russians shot the lock on the gate to enter the property.

When the victim came out with his hands raised, Yangolenko stated that he was looking for a “fire spotter” and immediately struck the man in the chest with the butt of a rifle.

While the victim was leading the soldiers to the garage, Yangolenko struck him again in the back with the butt with such force that the bolt of the weapon moved. In the garage, angered by the absence of wheels on the cars, he again struck him in the back with the butt.

To intimidate him, Yangolenko fired a shot near the victim’s head and again struck him in the back, causing him to fall to the floor.

Yangolenko demanded information about spotters, threatening to kill the victim and his relatives (his wife, child, and father), who were hiding in the basement.

The next day, at about 17:00–18:00, the occupiers returned.

Acting aggressively, Yangolenko put a pistol to the victim’s temple and struck him with the barrel on the head, then hit him in the jaw. When the man tried to get up, Yangolenko kicked him in the stomach.

This time he demanded information about owners of “Italian or antique rifles”. He again put the pistol to the victim’s head, but another Russian serviceman began to calm him down, noting that there would be no benefit from a dead person. After that, the occupiers took food from the house and left.

The victim sustained multiple injuries and had to undergo treatment in a hospital.

Verdict

During the occupation of Izium, the victim, trying to protect his family, appealed to the occupation “commandant’s office” with a complaint about the actions of the soldiers. He was advised to change his place of residence for safety reasons. After the liberation of Izium, Ukrainian law enforcement seized materials from the “military police of Izium”. Among them was a copy of Yangolenko’s own statement dated May 6, 2022, in which he effectively confirmed entering the victim’s household.

Through the “Russian Passport” system, full personal data of the accused were obtained, including his date of birth, passport details, and information about his service in military unit 91711.

Yangolenko’s actions were qualified under Part 2 Article 28 and Part 1 Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.

The verdict entered into force on March 6, 2025, after the appellate review, which upheld the decision of the court of first instance.

The number of the criminal proceeding in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations is 42023220000000008.