Lyubas Aleksandr Vladimirovich (Lyubas Oleksandr Volodimirovich)

Early in October 2023, the FSB in Crimea reported on the alleged prevention of an attempt by a group of Ukrainian saboteurs to infiltrate near Cape Tarkhankut using three jet skis and one high-speed boat. As a result, one of the 'diversionists,' a serviceman, a private soldier of the GUR unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Lyubas, was taken prisoner. According to the security forces, Lyubas said that the group wanted to take photos and videos of the DRG participants against the backdrop of the Ukrainian flag. Lybas was accused of illegally crossing the border, preparing for a terrorist attack, and illegal possession of weapons and explosives. According to the Russian investigation, in March 2022, Lyubas, being in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, joined the special forces unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine." Subsequently, he acquired skills in hand-to-hand combat and studied the rules for handling firearms. Lyubas voluntarily joined the landing group on the territory of the Chernomorsky district of the Republic of Crimea, to conduct photo and video documentation of the fact of establishing the Ukrainian state flag there. On October 4, 2023, a Ukrainian citizen, together with other individuals, using jet skis and a boat for transportation and having firearms, illegally crossed the State Border of the Russian Federation from the territory of Ukraine, but they were discovered by FSB Border Guard officers. A group consisting of Lyubas and other individuals began sharply maneuvering on the jet skis and fled the scene of the incident. Lyubas, who was sitting in the passenger seat of one of the jet skis, fell into the water after a sharp maneuver, after which he was detained by FSB PU officers. He was placed under arrest. On September 3, 2024, the Southern Military District Court found Alexander Lyubas guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in a strict regime penal colony, with the first 3 years to be served in prison. On December 4, 2024, the Appellate Military Court left the verdict unchanged.