Since February 2022, Kovalenko served as a rifleman in the armed forces of the DPR. On July 27, 2022, he entered into a six-month contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. “On July 29, 2022, as a result of massive enemy mortar fire, he had a feeling of fear for his life, as a result of which, in order to evade military service, in the morning of July 30, 2022, in the Zaporozhye region, he left his place of service without permission and went to his mother.” , says the court verdict.
The defendant’s colleague told the court that after the shelling, he expressed regret to him about signing the contract, “since he had not previously imagined the possibility of performing military service duties in conditions that threatened his life and health.” Kovalenko escaped from the front, changing into civilian clothes. Until January 2023, the defendant received a military salary, but hoped that the command would fire him for violating the contract.
On September 8, 2023, Kovalenko’s location in the Krasnodar Territory was established by employees of the military commandant’s office. The court convicted Kovalenko on January 31, 2024, and on February 16 it came into force.
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