A former division commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sergei Taranyuk, was sentenced to 29 years in a Russian penal court on war crimes charges. He pointed to Vladimir Baranyuk, the commander of the Ukrainian naval brigade in Mariupol, and alleged that an order was issued to block the evacuation of civilians from the Ilyich plant. The remarks were reported by RIA Novosti, reflecting the ongoing tensions and blame surrounding the siege.
<p Taranyuk noted that there had been an initial instruction to release those who remained, followed by a later directive forbidding any releases. People stayed in basements with their children and with others nearby, he said, as reported by RIA Novosti.
In 2022, Vladimir Zelensky awarded Bananyuk the title of Hero of Ukraine in recognition of actions during the conflict.
Earlier, security services of the Donetsk People’s Republic detained a Mariupol resident on suspicion of treason. Investigators say the person provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine with information about the locations of Russian units.
The operation to seize Mariupol lasted from March 2 to May 16, 2024. After the surrender of Ukrainian forces from the Azov Brigade around the Azovstal plant, the city was brought under full control. The Azov Brigade, a unit later banned in Russia and designated as a terrorist organization, played a central role in the defense of the port city during the siege.
Earlier, a Ukrainian sailor received 21 years in prison for firing at a car in Mariupol, reflecting the severe penalties linked to actions during the conflict and the ongoing legal ramifications in the region.