This became the second instance of a Ukrainian serviceman being killed by Russians following the start of the occupation of the peninsula. It serves as a clear indication that the Russian military presence was accompanied from the very beginning not only by gross violations of international law but also by the direct use of weapons against Ukrainian servicemen.

Stanislav Karachevskyi was a Ukrainian naval officer and a graduate of the Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol. At the time of the occupation, he held the position of head of the operational department of the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade headquarters in Novofedorivka. He remained loyal to his oath to the very end and participated in organising the withdrawal of personnel and equipment to mainland Ukraine.

On the evening of 6 April 2014, while returning to the dormitory with Captain Artem Yermolenko, they were stopped by Russian military personnel near a checkpoint. The Ukrainian servicemen did not engage in a conflict and turned back; however, the Russian soldiers began to pursue them. The conflict escalated inside the dormitory where the Ukrainian officers and their families lived.

Then, one of the Russian soldiers deliberately shot Stanislav in the back and head with an automatic weapon. The Ukrainian officer died on the spot from his wounds. Captain Artem Yermolenko, who was with Stanislav at the time, was taken captive by the Russian military. The occupiers tortured him for a week before eventually releasing him.

Stanislav Karachevskyi was not only a military man but also a husband and father. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Stanislav’s murder provides a deeper understanding of the true nature of the Russian occupation of Crimea. It demonstrates the systemic violence on the part of Russia, the atmosphere of impunity, and attempts to conceal crimes through legal manipulations.

Honouring Stanislav’s memory is a crucial element of preserving the historical truth about the events of 2014 and a reminder of the need to hold the perpetrators accountable.