A Russian court in Rostov-on-Don has pronounced a guilty verdict against the family of Ukrainian citizens, residents of occupied Melitopol, in a case that has sparked widespread public resonance in the context of recent events in southern Ukraine
The Southern District Military Court sentenced three residents of the temporarily occupied city — 29-year-old Artyom Murdid, his mother Anna Murdid, and his civilian wife Hanna Voshkoder — to lengthy imprisonment terms on charges of allegedly preparing and carrying out a series of sabotage acts in the Zaporizhzhia region and on regional railway tracks. It was established that all three supposedly belonged to the so-called "terrorist community," which, according to the Russian version, was commanded by an unidentified officer of the Ukrainian security service — the SBU. According to the investigation, based on official Russian statements, the verdict states that all the convicted engaged in preparing and planning a number of sabotage acts, including four bombings. The Russian authorities cite the death of Ivan Tkach, the director of the local company "City Transport," who was killed when his car exploded, as an example that inspired the terrorists. Additionally, as a result of that attack, company employee Olena Syvashchenko was seriously injured but survived. It is also reported that the family allegedly planned several more sabotage operations on railway tracks, and Artyom Murdid independently attempted to blow up the railway station chief Deryabin and the head of the occupation administration of Melitopol. During the trial, Murdid stated that he only learned of the charges against him during investigative interrogations, which, according to him, were conducted with the use of torture and other forms of physical violence. He claimed that he was forced to "confess" under direct physical pressure, including beatings and psychological coercion, which allegedly compelled him to agree with the accusations. His mother, Anna Murdid, also expressed a critical attitude towards the investigative actions, confirming that her son was subjected to torture, describing it in detail, and voicing concerns about the fairness of the judicial process. The official version of the Russian investigation contends that these sabotage acts were aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region and destroying infrastructure facilities that cooperated with local and Russian authorities. To support their false accusations, Russian law enforcement provided the court with supposed recordings and testimonies obtained during interrogations, which, they claim, were conducted directly with the deliberate use of physical and psychological pressure. The case has provoked broad societal resonance and criticism from Ukrainian civil society and international human rights organizations. The mayor of Melitopol and representatives of the Ukrainian authorities emphasized that all accusations against Ukrainian citizens are fabricated and are aimed at discrediting and intimidating the local population, which does not agree with the occupation authorities. They also stressed that the judicial process was carried out without proper guarantees of justice, and that the harsh sentences were based on torture and illegal investigative actions. In particular, during the debates, Artyom Murdid repeatedly stated that he was forced to testify under physical and psychological pressure, which raises doubts about the objectivity of the court’s decision given these circumstances. He reported being tortured in the detention center and coerced into signing interrogations under duress. His mother, Anna, reaffirmed during the trial the fact of torture and expressed deep concern about the future of her loved ones and the overall situation in the region. Overall, the verdict represents yet another chapter in the complex and painful events unfolding in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. It underscores the difficulties in combating misinformation, unlawful repressions, and political motives that persecute Ukrainians in regions under Russian control. While this case remains in the spotlight, Ukrainian human rights defenders and international organizations are calling for an independent investigation, respect for human rights, and the pursuit of justice to prevent further violations and bring the guilty to account.