The Russian 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced 30-year-old Ukrainian Vadim Chaly, a native of Kiev, to 16 years in prison under strict regime for sending postal packages with explosive devices aimed at three lieutenant colonels from the Russian Ministry of Defense, reports the publication "Mediazona".
According to investigators, Chaly arrived in Moscow to look for work and contacted individuals who, according to the Russian side, were representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). He was promised a reward of 1,000 to 4,000 rubles for each package he sent. According to the prosecution, each of the three packages contained about 900 grams of explosives, but none of them exploded.
One of the recipients said that he received the package under the pretext that it was a gift from colleagues, but after hearing strange sounds resembling a telephone, he immediately took it out onto the balcony and waited for the arrival of sappers.
In court, Chaliy repented of his actions, admitted his guilt and asked for leniency, citing his mother's ill health: "I understand that I have committed a huge stupidity. I admit my guilt and am ready to bear the punishment. I ask for leniency for the sake of my mother — she is sick, I am very worried about her."
According to RBC, before his detention, Chaliy was involved in music and rap and was looking for a way to make a living in Russia. The case has been widely reported in the Russian media and seen as an example of internal vulnerability and alleged Ukrainian subversion, although no evidence of a connection to the SBU has been publicly presented.