Matienko Andrey Anatolevich (Matiyenko Andriy Anatoliyovich)

On September 24, 2022, a 32-year-old local resident, Ukrainian citizen Andriy Matiyenko was detained in the occupied part of Kherson region. Three days later, on September 27, 27-year-old Oleksandr Gazda was detained there as well. They were accused of participation in a terrorist community and preparation of a terrorist act as part of a group of persons by prior conspiracy. Gazda was additionally accused of undergoing training for the purpose of terrorist activities.

According to the version of the Russian investigation, Gazda during meetings and telephone conversations in Zaporizhzhya and Kryvyi Rih agreed to the proposal of a Ukrainian intelligence officer to participate in a terrorist community. Later he attracted Andrei Matienko to this activity. Matienko allegedly helped transport explosives and components for making explosive devices from Zaporizhzhya to Kherson by hiding them in the trim of car doors. Gazda also received mine-bombing training via video link and in person in Kiev. In September 2022, the defendants planned to blow up the car of a person cooperating with the administration of Kherson by placing an improvised explosive device under the underbody, but did not have time to realize their plan because they were detained.

During the investigation, the men were placed in pre-trial detention.

On June 27, 2025, the Southern District Military Court found the defendants guilty and, by partial addition to the punishment under the sentence of the Kherson City Court of February 19, 2024, Alexander Gazda was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony. Andrey Matienko, by partial addition to the sentence of February 19, 2024, the court sentenced him to 11 years of imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony.

The sentence was not appealed and entered into legal force.