The Kherson City Court in absentia handed down a verdict to local resident Ihor Zhdanyuk, who illegally headed the Chornomorskyi Biosphere Reserve. He was found guilty of collaborationist activity under part 7 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
This was reported in the court’s verdict.
As the court found, Zhdanyuk worked at the reserve before the full-scale invasion, and after the arrival of Russian troops agreed to cooperate. From November 1, 2022, by order of the occupying authorities he was appointed acting director, and later became the head of a fake institution.
The investigation and court gathered an extensive body of evidence, among which were testimonies of Zhdanyuk’s former colleagues who confirmed his voluntary cooperation. Also, reports about his activities regularly appeared on the reserve’s propaganda outlets, in particular the holding of conferences under the aegis of the Russian Federation and the transfer of aid to Russian military personnel. Data from Russian registries also confirmed that he is officially listed as the director of the institution within the legal framework of Russia.
During the hearings, Zhdanyuk’s lawyer insisted on acquittal, claiming that guilt had not been proven and that the voluntariness of taking the position was not confirmed by proper evidence. However, the court rejected these arguments, noting that in the published photos and videos the defendant behaves freely, plans work within the occupation authorities, and does not show signs of physical or psychological coercion.
The court sentenced Ihor Zhdanyuk to 14 years of imprisonment with confiscation of all his property. He was also banned from holding positions in government bodies, law enforcement agencies, or local self-government for 15 years.
Recall, in 2023 Zhdanyuk took part in pseudo-elections to the illegal authorities in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region and became a deputy of the occupation Council of Deputies of Hola Prystan from “United Russia”.
In 2020 he ran for the Hola Prystan City Council from “OPZZh”, in 2015 — for the Kherson Regional Council from the now-banned “Socialists” party. In 2010 he was elected a deputy of the Beryslav District Council from the “Party of Regions”.