Artemiy Ryabchuk being sentenced, 10 December 2024. Photo: Suspilne Dnipro.
10 December, Dnipro – The Dnipro Court of Appeal considered the case of Artemiy Ryabchuk, a former National Guard soldier who committed a mass shooting at the Pivdenmash plant in January 2022. The attack killed five people and injured five others. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citingSuspilne.
At the hearing, Ryabchuk’s lawyer requested that the sentence be changed from life imprisonment to 15 years in prison. The convict also made a statement of remorse:
“I apologise to everyone whose lives I have ruined. I am very sorry. If I could turn back the clock, everything would be different. I understand that this is impossible and I am sincerely sorry,” he said.
The court upheld the verdict. Artemiy Ryabchuk will serve a life sentence.
The tragedy at Yuzhmash
On 27 January 2022, at around 4:00 am, one of the most shocking tragedies in the history of the National Guard of Ukraine occurred on the territory of the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro. Soldier Artemiy Ryabchuk opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle during the issuance of weapons. The shooting killed five people and injured five others.
After the crime, Ryabchuk fled the scene with the weapon. He was detained on the same day at 9:30 a.m. in the town of Pidhorodne.
Court decisions and investigations
On 23 April 2023, the Krasnohvardiyskiy District Court of Dnipro found Artemiy Ryabchuk guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: premeditated murder, desertion and misappropriation of weapons. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
At the trial, Ryabchuk fully admitted his guilt and apologised to the families of the victims. However, his lawyer appealed the verdict, trying to obtain a reduced sentence.
Ryabchuk’s case is also accompanied by a pre-trial investigation into possible violations in the unit where he served. The responsibility of the command for non-compliance with security rules is still under investigation.
