From hero to traitor: former intelligence officer Eduard Shevchenko on trial in Mykolaiv
Eduard Shevchenko, a former commander of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center and a former official of the Ochakiv City Council, is now on trial in Mykolaiv. According to the investigation, Shevchenko, who had fought in intense battles while serving in the ATO zone, betrayed his oath and began working for the Russians after their full-scale invasion. Allegedly, under their orders he attempted to recruit the mayor of Ochakiv and reported on the aftermath of shelling.
Shevchenko was detained in January 2023, and the court accepted the indictment for review the following month. He has remained in custody since then. Currently, the court is examining his correspondence with a Russian officer. MIPL has recorded key exchanges, spoken with the defendant, and is reporting on the trial.
From decoration to suspicion
Eduard Shevchenko was born and raised in Kamchatka in a military family. His relatives still live in Russia. Despite his father’s objections, Shevchenko pursued a military career. He first completed mandatory military service in Vladivostok, and after being transferred to Ukraine, he graduated from the Nakhimov Black Sea Naval School in Sevastopol and began serving in the Marine Corps.
In 2014, Shevchenko was the commander of a unit within the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center. He took part in the liberation of Sloviansk and fought in battles for Toretsk, Kramatorsk, Siversk, and Yampil. He also engaged in combat near Vuhlehirsk, Debaltseve, and Ridkodub. His unit played a key role in extracting encircled troops after the Ilovaisk tragedy. In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Shevchenko described a successful operation to liberate Toretsk from Russia-backed separatists.
For his service in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2016, Shevchenko was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky II and III degrees, the Order For Courage I and II degrees, a personalized firearm, and the non-governmental volunteer badge People’s Hero of Ukraine.
Eduard Shevchenko during his participation in the ATO. Photo by prm.ua
In 2016, Shevchenko was appointed commander of the Ochakiv-based 73rd Naval Special Operations Center. However, he was dismissed a year later. The official reason was a resolution of the military medical commission, which determined that Shevchenko was unfit to continue serving in special operations forces due to PTSD. In response, a group of naval intelligence officers under his command went on a demonstration to support him in front of the Ministry of Defense, claiming that his dismissal was part of an internal power struggle within the Center.
Shevchenko then held a press conference contesting the dismissal and asserting that he was being pushed out because he was a “difficult person” to work with. Later he launched a legal action for reinstatement. Despite a court ruling in his favor, he was never reinstated, nor was he granted the compensation he was owed, even though he was responsible for two minor sons, one of whom has a disability His wife was also discharged from military service. In later interviews, Shevchenko stated that he no longer wanted to even think about his military career due to the way he had been treated.
At the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Shevchenko was head of the security and surveillance department at the Ochakiv City Council’s municipal services division. According to him, his work involved setting up a video surveillance system in the city and handling security issues. When the war began, his responsibilities expanded to include preventing looting and maintaining public order.
However, Ukraine’s Security Service alleges that Shevchenko was engaged in entirely different activities. Law enforcement authorities claim that he was an agent of Russia, operating under the alias “Master.” According to their findings, he provided the Russians with intelligence on the situation in Ochakiv, reported on the aftermath of shelling, and attempted to recruit the city’s mayor Serhii Bychkov.
Detention of Eduard Shevchenko. Photo by SSU
It remains unclear when exactly Shevchenko decided to collaborate with Russia. The first attempts to recruit him were reported back in 2014 – before the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine – when he was allegedly offered the opportunity to transfer to the Russian service in annexed Crimea. At the time, Shevchenko refused, stating that he had sworn an oath of allegiance.
Later, following his controversial dismissal from service, another recruitment attempt was made. According to Shevchenko, in 2021 Russian intelligence offered him $100,000 to abduct and transfer the then-commander of the Special Operations Forces to Russia, but he again refused.
However, during Shevchenko’s trial, the prosecutor informed that in 2018 Shevchenko provided representatives of Donetsk People’s Republic with intelligence on the activities of the military units under his command, as well as operational plans of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In 2019, he allegedly met with a Russian agent who briefed him on plans for an offensive in southern Ukraine, assuring Shevchenko of his personal safety in exchange for further intelligence.
These actions form the basis of the charges against him for high treason.
Security Service has long been after me
The case against Eduard Shevchenko is being heard by a panel of judges consisting of Iryna Bobrova, Vadym Havrasienko and Inna Prytulyak at the Mykolaiv Zavodskyi District Court. The proceedings have been ongoing since February 2023.
At a recent hearing, Shevchenko has been escorted into a transparent courtroom holding cell. Dressed in a dark tracksuit, he leans on a cane and carries a large stack of documents along with his glasses.
Eduard Shevchenko in the glass holding cell during court session Photo by MIHR
Before the judges enter the courtroom, I approach Shevchenko and ask how he would explain the charges of high treason against him.
– I assume that if you are here, you have some idea of who you are talking to? Shevchenko responds in Russian. – Do you think the charge of high treason is relevant for a person who served the state for 25 years, fought for two of them, was awarded state decorations and incurred combat injuries?
– Then what is behind the case? Why these charges have emerged?
Shevchenko blames the Security Service of Ukraine:
For a long time now, our Security Service has been after me. They never succeeded in the past. But this time, they have managed to pull it off, and under the cover of martial law, which is now used to justify everything, they have prosecuted me. As you know, I have been in detention for almost two years now, and there is still no evidence of treason.
At that point Shevchenko put on his glasses and glanced over the indictment. He then stated that none of the acts listed under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, such as subversive activities against the state, espionage or transfer of information to the enemy, correspond to the facts of the case.
– Can you tell me about your attitude toward Russia and whether you had any contact with its representatives?
– What do you think my attitude could be if my home was destroyed? – Shevchenko responded with another question. – I fought for two years. I lost many comrades. If someone has suffered so much because of this war, what do you think their attitude would be? It’s obviously negative, isn’t it? I’m not an idiot who would clap his hands and say, “How great that I lost my home and so many of my friends died.”
At the same time, Shevchenko does not deny that in 2022 he communicated with Russians about Ochakiv’s mayor, Serhii Bychkov. He claims they asked him for the mayor’s phone number, but he responded that he would only provide it with Bychkov’s consent.
– The prosecution is trying to frame this as an attempt to co-opt. But reporting to a superior that someone is trying to obtain his phone number is not the same as persuading him to collaborate,” insists Shevchenko.
Eduard Shevchenko in the glass holding cell during court session Photo by MIHR
When asked why he did not report the enemy’s request to law enforcement, Shevchenko claimed that they had left the city at the time. He also referred to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, whereby an attempt at recruitment may be reported not only to police, but also to representatives of the government.
– I informed the mayor. He is a representative of the state, isn’t he?
– Weren’t you concerned that they might try to recruit him? – I asked.
– I went to my superior and reported it. His statement confirms the same. My task was to report to him.
He also asserts that he does not want to be exchanged to Russia, arguing that he has no desire to “trade one prison for another” since the Russians would hardly forgive him for “spending two years taking them down in the east.”
Shevchenko rejects the accusations published by the Security Service of Ukraine following his arrest.
– In its press release, the Security Service wrote that I was gathering information on the deployment and movement of the Defense Forces. However, there is nothing about this in the case materials at all. And thanks to your journalist colleagues, a certain image of me has already been shaped, – he complains about the media
He makes the same argument regarding the Security Service’s allegations of forming a network of informants and leveraging his military connections. Additionally, he alleges that during the search of his home, authorities stole family valuables, money, and hunting knives. His allegations, however, have not led to any investigation. Finally, he adds:
– The Security Service claims they seized unregistered firearms and ammunition during my arrest. But here, take a look at this interesting photo made by the Security Service. Shevchenko shows a printed image. – Take a look at the guns and what’s under them. Can you see? It’s a gun permit. Funny how that works, doesn’t it? But thanks to your colleagues, the public has already formed its opinion.
Eduard Shevchenko displays the Security Service’s printed photographs of the firearms seized during the search of his home. Photo by MIHR
It has been later revealed in court that the gun permit was revoked due to the charges. Yet, it appears that at the time of the search the permit was still valid. Under Ukrainian law a gun permit may be revoked if its holder has been notified of suspicion and the police have been informed. Court rulings indicate that Shevchenko was detained on January 31, 2023. The search was carried out the same day, while the notice of suspicion was issued the next day.
– If we’re talking about honesty, then let’s talk about honesty. But if the goal is simply to make someone fit the narrative, then just say so, – Shevchenko finally snaps, his frustration evident.
“Thank you for a peaceful night”
The panel of judges commenced the hearing and announced the continuation of the examination of case materials.
Anton Malyuk, a prosecutor at the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, presented the court with a series of motions and investigation protocols. According to him, the inspection of Shevchenko’s phone uncovered messages and calls exchanged with a contact in Donetsk between 2022 and 2023. The investigation revealed that Shevchenko communicated with Serhiy Kolesnikov, an officer at the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Crimea. This finding was confirmed when the home of Kolesnikov’ father was searched in 2023, whereby investigators discovered that Kolesnikov’ father had been in contact with his son via the same phone number that had been found in Shevchenko’s contact list.
Shevchenko and Kolesnikov communicated multiple times a day via Telegram, exchanging both calls and messages.
– “My yard today after shelling. Here’s more”, the prosecutor reads aloud Shevchenko’s message, which was sent to Kolesnikov in June 2022 with the photo of a missile fragment attached. Later the same month, Shevchenko wrote: “I understand that there will be no communication. Hello?”
Kolesnikov responded that he would call back later and then messaged: “I’ll call you in the morning, we’re relocating.”
Shevchenko asked: “Can we sleep somewhere other than a basement? Any shelling expected?
“You can. You shouldn’t be targeted, but I can’t guarantee it. I’ll call in the morning,” replied Kolesnikov.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I need some clarity.”
“Good luck, take care of yourselves,” messaged back Kolesnikov.
“Family is everything. I’m really worried about them.”, added Shevchenko.
Later he messaged again, saying that there had been more strikes and that Ochakiv might just be wiped off the map, adding that his “family is in hysterics, and the kitchen ceiling has collapsed.”
The next day, Shevchenko messaged Kolesnikov again, saying “Thanks for a peaceful night.”
In July 2022, the Russian contact sent Shevchenko a screenshot of Ochakiv’s map with a marked location near the stadium followed by a question mark. The intelligence officer responded cryptically: “There are watermelons in the region, but for some reason, they didn’t grow here. That’s what people say.” Kolesnikov attempted to call several times but was unable to reach Shevchenko. He then messaged that they needed to “get in touch by phone before the talk.”
The prosecutor also read out messages from another account linked to Kolesnikov. In July, Shevchenko reported to him: “On June 21, the city was shelled by MLRS, and there are wounded civilians. When they targeted military facilities, the nearby houses were severely damaged. I’ll update you on any further attacks as I find out.” Following this, the two exchanged brief phone calls.
– These records confirm the communication between Shevchenko and Kolesnikov, concluded the prosecutor. – Let me remind that in a closed court session we reviewed a video featuring a person who confirmed speaking with Kolesnikov and hearing from him that he knew Shevchenko. Kolesnikov said that Shevchenko was their agent.
Defense attorney Oleksandr Herasymov, representing Shevchenko under contract, then took the floor:
I draw the court’s attention to the fact that the case materials contain no data indicating that any messages were found on Shevchenko’s phone during its inspection. In addition, the phones of Serhii Kolesnikov and the Telegram contact were not seized. The prosecution has presented the screenshots of their conversations. But a screenshot can only be taken from phone. How these screenshots were taken remains unclear to the defense.
Eduard Shevchenko’s defense attorney. Photo by MIHR
The defense attorney also emphasized that the correspondence read aloud by the prosecutor suggests that it was Kolesnikov who was sending Shevchenko certain coordinates
– It was Kolesnikov who provided a map of Ochakiv with marked locations. The messages written by Shevchenko contain nothing that could be construed as harmful to Ukraine. The only thing he said was that residential buildings were damaged when military targets were hit. I fail to see how these materials prove his guilt.
He also questioned the reliability of the witness’s testimony who allegedly heard that Kolesnikov admitted to collaborating with Shevchenko.
– If the witness directly confronted Kolesnikov with such a pointed question, it would have certainly raised suspicion. This looks more like a provocation, added the lawyer.
Then, it was time for Shevchenko to speak. Leaning on his cane, he stood up and began by addressing the same issue his lawyer had raised first, i.e. the correspondence:
– Many experts, whom my wife contacted, confirmed that it is impossible to take a screenshot from a phone without holding it in hands. And let’s not talk about secret moments. So, I can only assume one thing: there was a provocateur on the other end.
He once again denied that he had adjusted the strikes, arguing that such an action would require providing precise coordinates and addresses, whereas he had merely written about destroyed civilian infrastructure.
– I was describing what the other side was doing. But now you are trying to use my outrage against me. When I was told that the Russian army only hits military targets, I pushed back against that narrative, stated Shevchenko. He then added a clumsy joke: And what kind of adjustment is this, which is delayed by two months? Is it meant for Estonian gunmen?
At the same time, he did not deny communicating with Russians. He argued that such communication was not prohibited and that he was born and raised in Russia and therefore had many acquaintances and relatives there.
– These words are taken out of context, – he continued, visibly agitated. And yet, for some reason, the full text is not being shown. What the hell kind of military targets is Russia firing at, if you are supposedly striking your military facilities or rather our military facilities, but civilians are the ones dying? Why are you presenting this? It makes no sense
Prosecutor Malyuk responded to this remark. He explained that in one of his messages Kolesnikov had sent a screenshot with a marked location on a map and wrote: “Former?” referring to a former torpedo boat base.
– That’s not a former torpedo boat base, why are you lying again? – interrupted Shevchenko. – There is no stadium near the base. He asked about the military unit where I once served. And he sent that, not me.
– And he asked you a question, – continued the prosecutor.
– Is it a secret to anyone that I served there?
But the prosecutor kept insisting:
– You were asked a question: “Is a former or current military unit located there?”
– And no one knew where it was located? What exactly are you trying to suggest here, Anton Viktorovych?
– Then comes your veiled message about watermelons, – Malyuk continued, seemingly implying coded communications regarding the Ukrainian Armed Forces. – As if to say, they’re in the city, but not in large numbers. In another message about the MLRS shelling, you also wrote: “I’ll let you know about other strikes.”
– Uh-huh, – Shevchenko muttered angrily and fell silent.
The court then considered Shevchenko’s motion to lift the seizure of material evidence, which included his phones, firearms, and a thermal imaging device confiscated during the search of his home. Shevchenko argued that these items had no connection to the charges against him.
– The breadwinner of the family has been in detention for nearly two years – he raised his voice. – My wife has no money to buy firewood for the winter. The Security Service presented my hunting rifle as an arms cache. I am asking for the seizure to be lifted so that my wife can sell it and get some money. Moreover, our son has started studies, and they have no means to support themselves.
Eduard Shevchenko delivering his speech from a courtroom’s glass cage. Photo by MIHR
He added that the thermal imaging device had been purchased by his wife for hunting, and the phone belonged to his son. He requested that these items be returned to his family.
The prosecutor explained that the child’s phone did not contain any evidence of criminal activity. However, the prosecution noted that correspondence with the father contained messages discussing possible surveillance. At Shevchenko’s request, his son had recorded video footage of individuals whom he believed were watching him.
– The kids were sitting in the car and noticed someone watching them, – Shevchenko explained. – It turned out to be people from the Security Service. I asked him to send me the video. We live in a frontline town and anything could happen. What a circus. What’s next? My child is an agent of the Kremlin?
However, the prosecutor requested that the court include this phone’s inspection report in the case materials. He argued that Shevchenko’s messages to Kolesnikov indicated he believed he was being watched, and therefore, the incident involving the child’s phone served as further confirmation of their communication.
According to one of the rulings in the case, Shevchenko had written to Kolesnikov: “Good night. I noticed surveillance today. They were following me and my family. When I confronted one of them to figure out who he was, it turned out he was an officer of the Security Service.@
Kolesnikov responded: “F**k, counterintelligence? Be very careful.”
“You bet. I’m trying. When should I expect you?”, asked Shevchenko.
Ultimately, the prosecutor did not object to returning the phone to the defendant’s son, but requested that the seizure of the firearm and thermal imaging device remain intact. He argued that the charges brought against the defendant imply confiscation in favor of the state. In the end, the court allowed to return the phone and thermal imaging device to the defendant’s family, but upheld the seizure of the firearm.
Prosecutor Malyuk petitioned for the extension of Shevchenko’s pretrial detention, arguing that there was a risk he might evade the investigation. However, defense attorney Herasymov requested a more lenient preventive measure. He emphasized that Shevchenko’s house had been destroyed by a Russian strike, raising doubts about his alleged subversive activities against Ukraine. He also urged the court to consider that Shevchenko’s child, who has a disability, requires care, and his condition is deteriorating. Additionally, Herasymov pointed to Shevchenko’s declining health while in detention.
– There have been no attempts by representatives of the Russian Federation to contact my client for nearly two years, – emphasized Herasymov. After arrest, he cooperated with law enforcement, and under their supervision contacted an individual they were interested in.
Shevchenko then took the floor. He spoke wearily and nervously.
– Before I step onto the stage of this theater of the absurd, where everyone understands what is happening but pretends they don’t, I would like to draw the attention of my esteemed colleagues. Because of someone’s supposedly lawful actions, I have no idea how my family will get through the winter. We don’t even have the money to buy firewood. My child has undergone nearly two years without rehabilitation. His condition is worsening. Well, now I’ll try to play my role.
Shevchenko stated that for nearly two years the prosecution had been submitting the same motion to extend his detention without providing proper justification. Eventually, he lost his composure and shouted:
– This isn’t a justification. It’s just a piece of text with your signature on it. Not a single lawyer who actually studied law rather than f**king bought their diploma, has told me that this is sufficient. Everyone I’ve spoken to just stares wide-eyed and asks: where is the justification?
Shevchenko used profanities several more times, and the court issued him a warning. He corrected himself and continued insisting that his actions did not constitute the crime of treason as defined by the law. He also denied any intention to flee or commit further offenses.
– No evidence of my guilt stems from what you have presented in this case. Maybe this is unnecessary to say, but I will say it anyway. Forgive me, but I’ve had enough Considering what we now see on TV, I mean what you do in this country, I am no longer surprised by anything. You are allowed to do whatever you want, said Shevchenko alluding to the recent scandal involving prosecutors allegedly obtaining fraudulent disability statuses.
Prosecutor Malyuk listened to Shevchenko’s lengthy speech with his head lowered, staring at his papers.
Anton Malyuk, prosecutor of the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office Photo by MIHR
Ultimately, Shevchenko once again reminded the court of his child’s illness and the hardships his family faced, pleading for release from custody.
Having reviewed the motion, the court ruled to extend his pretrial detention for another two months, as treason charges allow for no alternative preventive measures. The next hearing, which is scheduled for March 24, 2025 will continue the examination of case evidence.
