Марія БровінськаThat's Life
7 July 2026, 10:27
2026-07-07
In Zhytomyr region, a programmer was sentenced to 14 years for creating a terrorist group and preparing a terrorist attack in 2014
The Zhytomyr Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of a business analyst and programmer at the IT company Edson Ukraine. The defense requested that the verdict be overturned, but the court found the arguments unfounded. Here are the details.
The Zhytomyr Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of a business analyst and programmer at the IT company Edson Ukraine. The defense requested that the verdict be overturned, but the court found the arguments unfounded. Here are the details.
The Zhytomyr Court of Appeals upheld the sentence of a business analyst and programmer at Edson Ukraine LLC, who was previously sentenced to 14 years in prison with confiscation of property for a number of crimes related to terrorist activities. The court rejected the defense’s appeals.
According to the case materials, the man worked as a business analyst and programmer at Edson Ukraine LLC. The court of first instance found him guilty, in particular, of creating and leading a terrorist group, aiding terrorist activities, and illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. For the totality of the crimes, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison with confiscation of property.
In the appeal, the defense insisted on overturning the verdict and acquitting the accused. The lawyers argued that violations were committed during the pre-trial investigation, some evidence was inadmissible, and the conclusions of the first instance court did not correspond to the factual circumstances of the case.
However, the panel of judges did not agree with these arguments. The ruling notes that the defendant’s guilt is confirmed by the totality of the evidence examined, including the results of secret investigative actions, expert opinions, witness statements, and other materials from the criminal proceedings.
In particular, explosives experts determined that components seized during the investigation could have been used to make improvised explosive devices. Experts also found traces of hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine (HMTD), an explosive often used in improvised explosive devices.
As a result, the Zhytomyr Court of Appeal left the sentence unchanged. Thus, the programmer finally received 14 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. The court left a similar decision in force for the second convict in this case.
According to the court registry, the criminal proceedings concerned the activities of a group of individuals accused of creating a terrorist group, illegal handling of weapons and explosives, and other crimes related to terrorist activities. The first instance court found both defendants guilty, and the appeals court confirmed the legality of this decision.
As dev.ua previously reported, according to the case materials, in late spring 2014, the IT worker developed a plan to detonate bombs in three public places in Zhytomyr: the city military commissariat, the regional state administration, and a Privatbank branch. To implement the plan, he recruited two accomplices and independently manufactured five explosive charges, four electric detonators, and three clockwork mechanisms in his garage. The explosions were scheduled for August 5, 2014.
The crime was not completed: both main participants were detained at 2 am when they went to the garage to get explosive devices. During the searches, all components of the homemade devices and campaign materials were seized.
The trial lasted for over ten years. Both defendants did not appear at the hearing — according to the court, after their detention in 2014, they were handed over to representatives of the ORDLO in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war. The case was considered in absentia, in the order of special court proceedings.
Disclaimer
The mention of the convict’s place of employment is given solely because this information is contained in the text of the court ruling. The case materials do not contain any information about the employer’s involvement in the incriminated crimes.
A programmer who planned to blow up the military registration and enlistment office, the regional state administration, and a Privatbank branch was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison in Zhytomyr. The trial lasted 10 years, and the defendants were exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war
