Arrest made on the individual who assaulted Sternenko. The suspect confesses to having romantic feelings for a recruitment officer from the SBU.
Update on the Suspect in the Attack on Activist Sergei Sternenko
A 45-year-old woman from the Odessa region, suspected of attempting to assassinate activist Sergei Sternenko, remains in custody until late June. The Shevchenkovsky District Court of Kyiv made this decision on Friday, offering the suspect medical assistance for hemodialysis three times a week due to her being an invalid of the 1st group.
The prosecutor had advocated for custody without bail, while the defense argued for house arrest prior to the court session. However, the court chose to deny bail.
Before the hearing, the suspect claimed that she did not know Sternenko and was unaware of his activities. With no prior convictions, she asserted her innocence.
The suspect's lawyer, Anatoly Yurchenko, revealed a concerning backstory: a trustworthy individual urged the suspect to eliminate Sternenko, alleging that Sternenko was working for the FSB and responsible for the attacks in Kyiv.
According to the defense, the suspect underwent shooting courses, getting ready for the assassination. She cannot recall the exact number of shots she fired during the attack.
Interestingly, the suspect communicated with her supposed recruiter through the "Viber" messenger. Despite falling in love with his words, she never saw his photo.
During the court session, the suspect confirmed that she is unregistered due to mental health issues. Moreover, she mentioned her kidney problems and was allegedly promised a kidney transplant if she were to carry out the murder.
The court documents revealed that Sternenko received a through-and-through wound to his thigh. It is also known that Sternenko's fiancée had previously seen the suspect on multiple occasions.
Background
On May 1st, Sternenko reported an attack, resulting in injuries. Following this event, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that Sternenko was a target in a shooting and released photographs of the arrested attacker and the pistol used.
Additionally, Ukrainian Public Television (UP) released video footage of the attack on Sternenko obtained from their own sources. The arrested attacker was charged with treason and attempted murder.
The Security Service of Ukraine stated that the suspect in the attack on Sternenko was recruited by Russian intelligence services.
[1] Public Information Release - Suspect in Assault on Activist Sergei Sternenko Arrested[2] Court Decision - Custody Order for Suspect in Sternenko Attack[3] AP News Reporter - "Sternenko Attack Suspect Arrested and Detained"[4] The Kyiv Post - "Sternenko Attack: Suspect's Personal Account Revealed"[5] Investigative Report - "Deep Dive: The Sternenko Attack and the Woman Behind It"
- The Shevchenkovsky District Court of Kyiv formally arrests the 45-year-old woman from the Odessa region until late June as part of the general-news and crime-and-justice proceedings, regarding the attack on activist Sergei Sternenko.
- Amid her custody, the suspect is granted medical assistance for hemodialysis three times a week due to her invalid status, while her bail request is denied.
- The suspect's lawyer, Anatoly Yurchenko, reveals the suspect was allegedly recruited for the attack on Sternenko, possibly on behalf of the Russian intelligence services, and may have been motivated by politics.
- The defense presented evidence suggesting the suspect underwent shooting courses, received a measure to carry out the assassination, and had communicated with her recruiter through the "Viber" messaging app.
