The "Supreme Court" in Russian-occupied Crimea on Friday sentenced Ukrainian citizen Yevhen Panov, who is accused of plotting sabotage on the Crimean peninsula in the summer of 2016, to eight years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony.

"To impose punishment on Yevhen Oleksandrovych Panov in the form of imprisonment for a term of eight years with serving a term in a high-security penal colony," Judge Andrei Paliy said.

This period includes about two years, which the Ukrainian spent in custody.

A resident of Zaporizhia region was found guilty under a number of articles of the Russian Criminal Code, in particular "illegal storage and transportation of arms and ammunition," "attempted smuggling of weapons and ammunition," "preparation for sabotage as part of an organized group."

Panov did not admit his guilt.

The verdict can be appealed within ten days from the date the verdict was announced.

The defendant's lawyer, Olga Dinze, said that the defense team would file an appeal.