Court in Poltava Sentences Man for Attempting to Kill Utility Worker

A court in Poltava has concluded a trial resulting in a verdict against a man who attempted to kill a worker from Poltavatoploenergo in August 2025. The incident occurred when the woman visited his home to deliver utility bills that detailed outstanding debts.

According to information presented in the court's verdict, the events unfolded on August 18, 2025. The accused, while in his apartment, heard the utility worker enter the building. Due to his outstanding utility debts, the man suddenly formed the intent to kill, a fact that was documented in the court records.

Armed with a plastic garbage bag and a polymer rope, the man exited his apartment and approached the Poltavatoploenergo employee, who was in the process of distributing bills into mailboxes. According to the investigation, the accused threw the bag over the woman's head, wrapped the rope around her neck, and began to strangle her, while she screamed and fought back.

Following this, the assailant began to strike the victim: "With both fists, he delivered no fewer than ten blows to the victim's head, after which, partially lifting the bag from her face, he began to place the paper notices of debt that the victim had brought with her into her mouth, and continued to strangle her," the court's verdict stated.

Fortunately, the victim managed to spit out the bills, and a neighbor responded to her screams, distracting the attacker. This allowed the woman to flee the building and escape further harm.

After the incident, the woman was found to have sustained serious injuries: a closed fracture of the alveolar process of the upper jaw on the left, bruising to the buccal areas on both sides, a closed traumatic brain injury, a concussion with soft tissue contusion of the frontal area, and traumatic subconjunctival hemorrhage in the right eye. These injuries indicate the brutality of the attack and the seriousness of the accused's intentions.

The court found the man guilty of committing a criminal offense under part 3 of Article 15 (attempted crime) and part 1 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional murder). As a result, he was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. Additionally, the accused is required to pay 11,000 hryvnias for the conducted expert examinations and 20,000 hryvnias to the victim for her medical treatment.

The man partially admitted his guilt, claiming that he did not intend to kill the utility worker but merely wanted to scare her. This statement sparked outrage in the community, as the actions of the accused clearly demonstrated a serious threat to the life and health of individuals performing their jobs.

This case serves as yet another reminder of how dangerous situations related to utility debts can be, and underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of utility workers who face similar risks daily.