Irpin Builder Arrested for High Treason After Registering Starlink Terminals for Russian Forces

Law enforcement authorities in the Kyiv region have apprehended a 24-year-old construction worker from Irpin on charges of high treason. The suspect is accused of registering and activating Starlink satellite communication terminals for the Russian military in exchange for financial compensation.

Social Media Recruitment and Crypto Payments

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General, the young man was seeking part-time work on social media when he was approached by a Russian soldier. The operative offered him $200 for every Starlink terminal he successfully verified. The suspect allegedly completed the activation process at a local post office using his personal identification documents, subsequently receiving his illicit earnings via a cryptocurrency wallet.

Expanding the Illicit Network

The investigation revealed that the suspect did not stop at his own activations. He later roped a colleague and the colleague's wife into the scheme, successfully verifying two additional terminals. Authorities noted that he deliberately concealed the true purpose of the devices from his associates. Furthermore, the SBU uncovered plans by the suspect to recruit approximately 20 more individuals into this clandestine operation.

Legal Repercussions and Potential Life Sentence

The Office of the Prosecutor General emphasized the suspect's malicious intent, stating: "It has been established that the suspect was fully aware that the activated systems are being used by the Russian military to coordinate combat operations against Ukraine."

The man has been officially served with a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to high treason committed under martial law. A court has ordered him to be remanded in custody without the option of posting bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment coupled with the confiscation of all his property.