In the 2nd Western District Military Court, there were hearings on the case of Ukrainian Air Force pilots Dmitry Shimansky and Alexander Morozov, who are charged with 'terrorism' and attempting to drop a 'dirty bomb', with a total of 7 and 10 articles of the Criminal Code, reports SOTAvision*.
The case was considered in a closed session due to classified information in the criminal case materials, as well as 'to ensure the safety of the participants in the process'.
The prosecution requested 30 years of imprisonment for the pilots, with the first five years in prison and the rest in a high-security colony. In addition, the prosecution demanded a fine of 3 million rubles for Shimansky and 1 million rubles for Morozov.
According to the investigation, in the summer of 2023, the pilots were supposed to cross the Ukrainian-Russian border at low altitude in ultralight aircraft and attack the oil refinery tanks of 'Slava' and the 'Druzhba' pipeline in the Bryansk region. The aircraft did not reach their targets. Morozov was detained near the border with Ukraine, and Shimansky's aircraft reached the Tula region.
During the preliminary investigation, the pilots gave fully confessional statements on all the episodes charged against them, including the planning of using radiological weapons. However, in court, they retracted their words, admitting guilt only in part.
The lawyers, who were likely appointed by the state, in their arguments asked to acquit the Ukrainian pilots, calling them 'prisoners of war who were following the orders of Nazis and drug-addict criminals, under whom they themselves were held captive'.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent'.
Photo: SOTAvision