The SBI decided to close the proceedings against 277 servicemen of the 501st Separate Battalion of the Marine Corps of the Ukrainian Navy, who defended Mariupol. The fighters were suspected of desertion.

This was reported by the press service of the SBI.

After that, the military unit resumed their payment of monetary support. Families of servicemen will receive full monetary support for soldiers during their stay in captivity.

History of Marines of the 501st Battalion during the Defense of Mariupol

According to law enforcement officers, the fighters were captured because of the betrayal of one of the commanders.

Since the end of February 2022, battalion servicemen have been defending Mariupol. In April of the same year, Russian propagandists spread information that the marines of the 501st battalion had voluntarily surrendered in the besieged city of Mariupol.

However, the SBI established that, in fact, the head of the clothing service of the rear of the 501st Infantry Brigade had defected to the enemy. He colluded with the Russians and persuaded the battalion commander to surrender.

Because of this, the Marines were ordered allegedly to redeploy, but in fact they were transferred to the occupied part of Donbas.

"The military was misled, and therefore they did not realize the unlawful nature of the order or order to surrender," the ministry said.

The head of the material service of the rear of the 501st Infantry Brigade of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was informed of suspicion of treason (part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces life imprisonment.

According to media reports, we are talking about Konstantin Bezsmertny, who was then the acting deputy commander of the 501st battalion. Russian propaganda videos show that the traitor, taking out the marines, was holding a walkie-talkie in his hands. He also calmly communicated with Russian propagandists and gave them interviews.

After surrendering, the Russians released Bezsmertny. He returned to his native Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region, which is under enemy control.

Recall that the relatives of Ukrainian civilians demand the release of those who were abducted by the Russians.

Read also:

  • For the first time in more than a year, the defenders of Mariupol saw their daughter, who was held hostage by the Russians while they were held captive
  • "A person after captivity is a box with problems": advice from Mariupol patrol officer Vershinin for released defenders
  • "They do not rest in Turkey, they are in captivity": the head of the patrol police of Mariupol about the commanders of Azovstal

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