Decorated Ukrainian Soldier Sentenced to 10 Years in Croatia for Attempted Murder

A decorated Ukrainian soldier, O.K. (35), has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Croatia for the attempted murder of his stepson and four counts of child endangerment. The Zagreb County Court handed down the non-appealable sentence, which also includes a two-year supervision measure and mandatory psychosocial treatment.

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I am guilty of everything I am accused of. I lived an honest life and did not commit crimes. I know I committed a terrible deed and I am very sorry.

During his defense, O.K. pleaded guilty, stating, "I am guilty of everything I am accused of. I lived an honest life and did not commit crimes. I know I committed a terrible deed and I am very sorry." He claimed he never hated his stepson and had once saved his life. He attributed his actions to the trauma experienced during two and a half years of service on the front lines in Ukraine, which left him with sleep disturbances and paranoia.

After returning from the war and surviving a rocket attack on their city, the family relocated to Croatia, where O.K. found work as a construction worker. His wife took a job in a restaurant, and O.K. became jealous of her male colleagues. Following an argument, his wife left with the children. O.K. went to their apartment, consumed alcohol, and upon being denied entry, broke in. A physical altercation ensued with his stepson, whom he then stabbed with a kitchen knife, though he claims not to remember the specifics of the act.

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My stepson, I never hated him, and I even saved his life once.

The court acknowledged several mitigating factors, including O.K.'s guilty plea, remorse, status as a family man with four children (three of whom are minors), his prior clean record, diminished capacity due to diagnosed severe PTSD from his wartime experiences, his service in Ukraine's defense, and two military decorations. However, the court also considered the severity of the crime and the need for rehabilitation.

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What I experienced in the war left a mark on me. When I returned from the front, I couldn't sleep, I woke up, I thought someone wanted to do something to me.

O.K. requested an opportunity to atone for his behavior and asked to be deported to Ukraine to regain his honor, fight for his country, and provide for his children. The court excluded the public from the trial proceedings to protect the victims.

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I know I did something terrible, but it is a consequence of war and alcohol. I ask that you give me the opportunity to atone for my behavior, and I ask that, if possible, you deport me to Ukraine so I can atone for my honor, fight for my country, and earn for my children.