A militant of Azov (a terrorist organization banned in the territory of the Russian Federation), Sergei Mikhailenko, who shot a car with children in Mariupol, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a special regime colony. This was announced on Tuesday, January 16, by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation in its Telegram channel.

«He was found guilty under Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Murder of two or more persons, a minor, as well as another person who is obviously helpless for the perpetrator»), Part 3 of Article 30, paragraphs «a», «b», «g», «l» Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Attempted murder of two or more persons, minors»), part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Ill—treatment of civilians in the occupied territory»),» the message clarifies.

It was established that in March 2022, Mikhailenko, while in a combat position in Mariupol, noticed the movement of a civilian car with white ribbons and inscriptions indicating the presence of children inside. He shot the vehicle with a machine gun, as a result of which three adults and one three-year-old child died of their injuries on the spot.

Among other things, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported on its website that the convict had fully admitted guilt.

«Mikhailenko admitted guilt in the crimes committed in full,» the TFR clarified.

Earlier, on December 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that more than 200 representatives of the armed formations of Ukraine (VFU) had been sentenced to significant prison terms by Russian courts. According to the minister, at the moment, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has already initiated more than 4 thousand criminal cases, involving about 900 people.

On November 30, the press service of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) reported that the Supreme Court sentenced to 24 years in prison a militant of Azov (a terrorist organization banned in the territory of the Russian Federation), who shot a civilian in Mariupol. In March 2022, Maxim Rozhevetsky was in a combat position at an apartment building on Metallurg Avenue in Mariupol. He noticed a woman walking and shot her with a machine gun, as a result of which she died on the spot.

Earlier, on November 16, the Supreme Court of the DPR sentenced a serviceman of the Ukrainian army to 25 years in a penal colony for shooting a resident of Mariupol. He shot a citizen in mid-March 2022 on Primorsky Boulevard. The victim died on the spot from his wounds.