Kovalyk Aleksandr Fyodorovich (Kovalik Oleksandr Fedorovich)

In Mariupol, in the occupied Donetsk region, no later than May 2022, 25-year-old Ukrainian citizen and Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Oleksandr Kovalyk was taken prisoner by Russian servicemen. A criminal case was opened against him for murder committed by a group of persons on grounds of political hatred or enmity. According to the Russian investigation, in April 2022, Kovalyk was at a combat position near the Ilyich plant in Mariupol. He spotted a moving civilian car driven by a man who posed no danger. However, Kovalyk, following orders from senior command and believing the citizen held pro-Russian views, fired at least fifteen shots from a machine gun. The man died at the scene from his wounds. On January 11, 2024, Kovalyk was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison to be served in a strict regime penal colony. The verdict was not appealed and entered into force.