0 out of 25,000

Quality journalism takes work — and a community that cares.
Help us reach 25,000 members by the end of 2025.

News Feed

SBU names Kherson Oblast collaborator suspected of torture of civilians

1 min read
SBU names Kherson Oblast collaborator suspected of torture of civilians
The sign “Kherson Oblast” stands on a roadside after the flood waters receded on June 22, 2023, in Kherson, Ukraine. (Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

An investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered the identity of a Ukrainian collaborator responsible for the kidnapping and torture of civilians in Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast, the SBU announced on Oct. 9.

Serhii Berozin has collaborated with Russia since 2014, when he joined the so-called "Internal Ministry" of the Russian proxy authorities in his hometown of Donetsk, according to the SBU.

After the full-scale Russian invasion and occupation of most of Kherson Oblast, he became the head of a district of the Russian-controlled police department of Kakhovka, a port city on the Dnipro River which is still occupied today.

In this role, he gives orders to kidnap and interrogate local residents in Russian torture camps, the SBU suspects.

"People are subjected to brutal torture," the SBU said, as Russian forces "try to break their resistance and make them cooperate."

Although Berozin is currently located in an area of Ukraine that has not yet been liberated from Russian control, "comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice," the SBU said.

SBU detains factory director for allegedly transferring $400,000 to Russian proxy forces
Avatar
Elsa Court

Audience Development Manager

Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was an intern at the Kyiv Post in 2018. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.

Read more
News Feed
 (Updated:  )Company news

The Kyiv Independent’s separate analytical unit, KI Insights, is excited to announce the launch of its podcast, Ukraine Insights — a show dedicated to unpacking Ukraine’s politics, security, economy, and international relations through in-depth, expert-driven conversations.

Video

Ukraine is facing its biggest wartime corruption scandal. The Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell explains how Energoatom — Ukraine's nuclear energy operator — became a breeding ground for corruption during the war, how a $100 million kickback scheme in the nuclear energy sector reached the highest levels of power, and what this crisis means for President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country.

Show More