Robbery in 2016, verdict in 2026: the court put an end to the string of attacks on Mykolaiv’s computer clubs

The Korabelnyi District Court of the city of Mykolaiv issued a verdict in the criminal case about a series of armed robberies on the computer clubs “V merezhi”, committed back in October 2016. The attackers broke into the establishments at night wearing masks, threatening employees with a bat, a pistol and objects resembling an F-1 grenade.

The verdict in case No. 489/1554/17 was delivered by the court on 25 June 2026. Two men stood in the dock, whose names in the published decision are hidden as PERSON_6 and PERSON_7.

The first attack took place on 4 October 2016 at about 03:30. According to the court, PERSON_6, PERSON_7 and another participant arrived at the computer club “V merezhi” in a VAZ-2107 vehicle, located at the intersection of Bohoyavlenskyi Avenue and Pohrychna Street in Mykolaiv.

The attackers had a bat and an object resembling a live F-1 grenade prepared in advance. Two men put on masks, stormed into the premises and, threatening the administrator and the security guard with life- and health-threatening violence, took 1,000 hryvnias.

After that the attackers fled in the car driven by the third participant.

The criminal story did not end there. As the court established, in October 2016 PERSON_6 decided to systematically engage in armed robberies in Mykolaiv. To this end he formed an organized group, which included his brother and an acquaintance, a resident of Kyiv.

Already on 14 October 2016 at about 03:40 the group again arrived at the same “V merezhi” club at the intersection of Bohoyavlenskyi Avenue and Pohrychna Street.

This time the attackers brought a blank-firing pistol “EKOL MAJOR” and a mock training F-1 grenade. Putting on masks, two men burst into the club, where they threatened the security guard and the administrator.

They took 1,000 hryvnias from the club, a Samsung E 1200 I mobile phone worth 250 hryvnias and a Fly DS 106 D phone worth 300 hryvnias. The court assessed the total material damage to the victim at 1,550 hryvnias.

Three days later, on 17 October 2016 at about 03:10, the organized group carried out another attack.

This time the target was the computer club “V merezhi” on Chkalova Street, 215v, in Mykolaiv.

The pattern was similar: VAZ-2107, masks, a blank-firing pistol and a mock F-1 grenade. Threatening the club employees, the attackers seized 2,576 hryvnias and a Lenovo G770 laptop worth 4,000 hryvnias.

The court determined the total amount of damage in this episode to be 6,576 hryvnias.

During the trial both defendants fully and unequivocally admitted their guilt, confirmed the circumstances set out in the indictment, and expressed remorse.

However, the punishments for them turned out to be significantly different.

PERSON_6 already had several prior convictions at the time of the new verdict. In particular, on 2 September 2019 the Central District Court of Mykolaiv convicted him of an offense under part 4 of Art. 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment, but he was then released from serving the sentence and given a probation period of 1 year.

On 30 June 2020 the same court sentenced him for robberies to 10 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. And on 1 March 2023 he received another sentence — also 10 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

For the attack on the club as part of a group the court imposed on PERSON_6 8 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, and for robbery committed repeatedly by an organized group — 10 years with confiscation.

By the totality of these criminal offenses the punishment was set at 10 years of imprisonment.

And taking into account the previous sentence from 1 March 2023, the court ultimately sentenced the man to 11 years of imprisonment with confiscation of his property.

At the same time the time spent in custody from 2 November 2016 to 26 November 2018 was credited toward the sentence under the “day-for-two” rule: 1 day of pre-trial detention corresponds to 2 days of imprisonment.

The situation was different for PERSON_7, whom the court found guilty of robbery combined with breaking into premises and committed by a group by prior conspiracy.

The court took into account his sincere remorse, active assistance in the disclosure of the crime, and the absence of severe consequences.

The court also noted the man’s military experience. From 17 August 2015 to 1 December 2015 he directly participated in combat operations during the ATO in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In addition, during the full-scale Russian invasion the man also took part in combat operations, and since 2024, as stated in the verdict, he had been a member of the volunteer unit “Frykor” and fought in Kharkiv region.

The court also noted that the man had no prior convictions, was positively characterized at his place of residence and by his military service, and was a sole proprietor.

There is, however, an inconsistency in the verdict regarding the number of his children. At the beginning of the document it is stated that the man has 2 minor children dependent on him. At the same time, in the reasoning part the court twice indicates that he has 3 minor or underage children.

Under part 3 of Art. 187 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine with the application of Art. 69 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the court sentenced PERSON_7 to 5 years of imprisonment without confiscation of property.

However, he will not actually serve this term if he complies with the conditions of probation.

Pursuant to Art. 75 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine he was released from serving the sentence and a probationary period of 2 years was set.

During this time the convicted person must periodically report to the probation authority and inform them of any change of residence or employment.

In addition, both convicts were ordered to pay 440.20 hryvnias each in court costs for conducting the expert examination.

Thus, the consideration of the case about the night attacks committed back in October 2016 ended with a verdict almost 10 years after the events themselves: one participant was finally sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, the other — to 5 years, from which he was released with a 2-year probationary period.

The verdict may be appealed to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 30 days.

Earlier we wrote:

• Gmail drafts, a Russian wife and fleeing the front: a sailor received 15 years for state treason
• An unsuccessful arson of “Ukrposhta” — go to courses: a strange verdict of the Korabelnyi court
• The sand was “for a minute”, and the sentence was for a year: how a neighborly quarrel in Korabelnyi became a criminal case
• Family brawl in Korabelnyi: a father and two sons beat three policemen and weren’t imprisoned
• At “ATB” — with a grenade: how a trip to the supermarket in the Korabelnyi district ended with an explosion near a building