Employees of the Slaviansk police department have detained a Russian citizen who arrived in Slaviansk in 2014, helped militants, including during the occupation of the city.

Almost four years ago the man joined an illegal armed formation in Slaviansk, and later left for Donetsk together with the militants, the General Directorate of the National Police in Donetsk region said on Facebook on Tuesday.

He told law enforcement officers that he had come to Slaviansk before the events of 2014, for some time he lived with a woman-resident of the city. When the city was captured, he turned to the militants and offered his help. The accomplice of the terrorists "worked" at the checkpoint, checking vehicles and people. Subsequently, he was given a uniform and a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

After liberation of the city, a Russian citizen, along with other mercenaries, left for Donetsk. For some time he was in a military camp on the territory of the mine, then left it on his own will.

"The militant escaped home, to the Russian Federation, but he did not get accustomed either in the fake 'DPR,' or in his own country and returned to Slaviansk, while he allegedly "forgot" about his past, the message says.

With respect to the suspect, criminal proceedings were opened under Part 2 of Article 260 (creation of armed groups not envisaged by law or participation in their activities) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term from three to eight years.