**Ukraine Charges Former Defense Engineer with Treason**
A former Ukrainian defense engineer has been charged in absentia with treason for allegedly helping Russia develop navigation systems for cruise and ballistic missiles. The Ukraine’s security service (SBU) made the announcement on June 25, stating that Oleg Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, fled to Russia in 2009 after resigning from a defense plant in Cherkasy Oblast.
According to the SBU, Borsuk later became the deputy general director of Moscow-based design bureau “Navis,” a major player in Russia’s military-industrial complex. The agency alleged that Borsuk oversaw the development and modernization of satellite guidance systems (GPS/GLONASS) used in Russian missiles, including those for Iskander tactical missile systems.
These systems are also used in missiles like the Kh-101, Kh-59, and Kalibr – weapons frequently deployed in Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The SBU claimed that under Borsuk’s leadership, nearly 3,200 satellite navigation units were produced in 2023 alone.
**Russian Attacks on Ukraine**
The allegations come as Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine, with deadly attacks on civilians and infrastructure becoming increasingly common. Just days before the charges were announced, a massive missile and drone assault on Kyiv killed 30 people and injured 172 others. One of the deadliest impacts was a direct hit on a residential building by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, which caused the complete collapse of an entire section of the nine-story building.
The SBU has charged Borsuk in absentia under Ukraine’s Criminal Code for treason committed under martial law. The agency vowed to bring him to justice for crimes against the state, despite his alleged hiding in Russia.
**Global Reaction**
The move has sparked a global reaction, with international leaders and organizations weighing in on the situation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine at a NATO summit in The Hague. Lithuania signed a memorandum with American defense firm Northrop Grumman to secure the production of ammunition amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, stressed that Russia would never have been able to carry out such drone attacks without support from Iran, and Ukraine, in turn, could not have intercepted most of the drones without the help of its international partners.
**Commentary**
The charges against Borsuk highlight the complex web of interests and allegiances involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The alleged treason comes as no surprise, given the deep-seated ties between Russia’s military-industrial complex and Ukraine’s own defense establishment.
As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how this development will affect the global response to the crisis. Will other countries take note of Ukraine’s efforts to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice? Only time will tell.
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