Vladimir Saldo, the occupying “governor” of the Kherson region, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the theft of Ukrainian grain

Following a public indictment by prosecutors from the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the court found Vladimir Saldo, the occupation “governor” of the Kherson region, guilty of violating the laws and customs of war and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

The investigation established that after being appointed head of the occupation administration of the Kherson region in 2022, Saldo facilitated the seizure of Ukrainian enterprises, exerted pressure on local businesses, and implemented the aggressor state’s policy of appropriating Ukrainian assets.

In particular, in October 2022, he ordered the removal of grain crops stored at “Kherson Bread Products Plant” and belonging to Ukrainian entrepreneurs. In accordance with this order, representatives of the occupying authorities, together with Russian military personnel, illegally transported approximately 3,000 metric tons of grain worth nearly 15 million hryvnias to the left bank of the Kherson region between October and November 2022.

The verdict was handed down in absentia. Saldo will serve his sentence after his arrest.

This is the third conviction against the collaborator. Previously, Ukrainian courts had twice found him guilty of high treason, collaboration, justifying the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine, and infringing upon Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center emphasizes that the illegal appropriation and removal of property from the occupied territories constitutes a gross violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, for which those responsible must be held accountable.