Extradition from Germany of border guard suspected of killing soldier in Odesa region

In October 2026, a military serviceman of the State Border Service was returned to Ukraine, suspected of murder while on duty. The man was extradited from Germany, where he had been hiding following an incident that occurred in July 2024 in the Odesa region.

Circumstances of the fatal shooting

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the tragedy took place on 14 July 2024. A border patrol stopped a taxi approximately 15 kilometres from the state border with Moldova. Four military servicemen were in the vehicle; they had deserted their training unit and intended to cross the border illegally on foot.

During a document check, two passengers attempted to flee. State Border Service officers detained one of them, while a pursuit began for the other. The detained man was left under the supervision of one of the servicemen, to whom his colleague had handed over a service pistol.

Investigation and charges

The investigation established that this border guard fired the shot at the detained man. Investigators believe there was no justification for using a firearm, as the man posed no threat to those around him. The victim died at the scene from his injuries.

After the death, the suspect illegally left Ukraine. He was placed on an international wanted list, and extradition was subsequently organised. The suspect was handed over to the Ukrainian side at the border with Poland on 19 October 2026.

Under the procedural supervision of the Odesa Specialised Prosecutor’s Office in the Sphere of Defence of the Southern Region, the serviceman was notified of suspicion in absentia under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 1 of Article 115 — intentional murder;
• Part 3 of Article 365 — abuse of authority or official powers.

Court decision and legal status

After returning to Ukraine, the court selected detention as a preventive measure for the suspect, without the right to bail.

In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, until guilt is proven in court and established by a guilty verdict, the man is considered innocent.

Recall that on 15 July 2024, reports emerged of a fatal shooting in the Odesa region. At that time, a State Border Service representative voiced a version that the border guard had acted in self-defence. These circumstances subsequently became the subject of an investigation.