Former Ukrainian military officer Denys Podobedov defected to Russia in 2014, and now heads air defense against the occupiers of Crimea, reports the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine, writes Ukrainian Pravda.

9 former servicemen who were part of the anti-aircraft units of one of the military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are suspected of defecting to the side of the enemy after the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

In addition to the fact that these former military personnel contributed to the occupation of the peninsula, during the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, most of them continued to fight on the side of the enemy.

One of the soldiers, Denis Podobedov, holds the position of deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment and manages the air defense of the Russian occupiers in Crimea.

All nine are suspected of desertion and treason (Part 1 of Article 408 and Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

They face up to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property.