Police detained a 22-year-old resident of Rivne who was burning military vehicles. He found this "job" in a Russian chatbot.
This was reported by the police of Rivne Region.
"The offender justified himself by saying that he urgently needed money. The Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for up to 10 years in prison for such earnings," law enforcement officials commented.
It is noted that a resident of the regional centre, looking for an easy part-time job, found an offer in one of the Russian chatbots to set fire to a car belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a reward.
Subsequently, Russian media presented videos of such cars as arson attacks on the cars of TRC employees in order to create a picture in the hostile media of a spontaneous initiative by Ukrainians who allegedly oppose mobilisation.
On 2 July, a resident of Rivne set fire to a Nissan Almera belonging to a military man. He immediately reported on the "work" he had done, sending supporting photos.
The "labourer" was promised several thousand dollars for this. However, it is not yet known whether the attacker managed to receive the reward, as he was exposed by police officers," the police added.
The police served him a notice of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional damage to property by arson).
The court granted the investigator's request and imposed on the suspect a custodial measure of restraint with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 242,240.
"He confesses to the crime, cooperates with the investigation and assures that he did not know that he was fulfilling the order of the aggressor country," law enforcement officers said.