Russian collaborator who tortured civilians jailed

A Ukrainian man who collaborated with Russia and tortured civilians in the Kherson region has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. 

The man “abused people and threatened to kill them”, including shooting through the legs of hostages or next to their heads, the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) said. 

He also tried to extort confessions from them about their involvement in the resistance movement. 

The convict is a former resident of occupied Zhdanivka in the eastern Donetsk region, who joined Russian occupiers in 2014. 

SBU officers and Ukraine’s special forces conducted a special operation in occupied territory to capture the man. 

A court sentenced him to 12 years in prison for his actions during the Russian invasion, but as he was also previously convicted of treason he will spend 15 years behind bars in total. 

Oil tanker hits mine in Black Sea

A Liberian-flagged oil products tanker has hit a mine in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania, according to the Reuters news agency.

The Ali Najafov tanker sustained minor damage in the incident yesterday but the crew was safe, sources told Reuters.

It was sailing near the Sulina channel at the time, Yoruk Isik, head of the Bosphorus Observer consultancy, said. 

A separate Ukrainian source confirmed the story. 

It is the second vessel this month to have been hit by a floating mine. 

Russia previously pulled out of a UN-backed deal in July allowing Ukrainian grains to be shipped safely.

Since then, Ukraine has set up a temporary “humanitarian corridor” for cargo vessels.