Crimean Man Sentenced for Attempted Execution of Ex-Ukrainian MP

A Russian military court sentenced Pyotr Zhitsky from Crimea to 24 years in prison for trying to kill former pro-Russian Ukrainian MP Oleg Tsaryov. Zhitsky was found guilty of high treason and attempted murder. The incident is part of alleged Ukrainian intelligence activities in Crimea.

A military court in Russia has handed a 24-year prison sentence to Pyotr Zhitsky, a Crimean resident, for his role in the attempted assassination of Oleg Tsaryov, an ex-Ukrainian parliament member with pro-Russian inclinations. Zhitsky, allegedly part of a Ukrainian agent network, was convicted of high treason and attempted murder.

Oleg Tsaryov, who was shot twice in October 2023, narrowly escaped death. The incident occurred in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian intelligence, reportedly behind the operation, aimed to disrupt Russian influence in the area.

Zhitsky is accused of collaborating with Ukraine's SBU from 2022, providing them with intelligence on Tsaryov. He received training in explosives and was compensated for tracking Tsaryov's movements, culminating in the attempted assassination.

(With inputs from agencies.)