Collaboration cases in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine

for Die ZEIT
by Fabian Ritter

There are less serious cases of collaboration: people who welcomed Russian soldiers and greeted their arrival on social media. These acts are legally considered glorification of the aggressor. Then there are the moderate cases: organizing demonstrations or conferences to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda; providing services to the occupiers; teaching students Russian textbooks. And there are the hard cases: People who betrayed the locations of Ukrainian troops or prepared attacks on schools, homes, hospitals. Those who handed their fellow human beings over to torture. Or to execution. Those who are guilty of the deaths of civilians and soldiers who became traitors because they received privileges and positions in return. Those who reported alleged resistance fighters, gathered information about Ukrainian positions, helped with logistics and administration rarely did so for free. Collaborators were allowed to manage confiscated Ukrainian companies, had preferential access to aid supplies and did not have to fear torture or execution.