Police apprehended a 34-year-old resident of Odesa who assaulted a couple on the street over a mobile phone. The assailant injured both victims, striking the man with a stone and stabbing the woman with a knife. He faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police.

The incident occurred in the Kyiv district of Odesa. The perpetrator asked the couple for their mobile phone under the pretext of making a call, and after receiving it, he attempted to flee. The couple chased after him, but he struck the man in the head with a stone and stabbed the woman in the shoulder with a knife. The victim lost consciousness, and his wife called for help from passersby, who contacted the police and ambulance. Medical personnel provided assistance and released them to go home. The man suffered a head injury, and the woman had a stab wound to her shoulder.

The police determined that the crime was committed by a previously convicted individual for theft and robbery, residing in the Kyiv district of Odesa. Officers seized a knife from his residence and collected other material evidence from the crime scene for examination. The stolen phone was sold by the perpetrator, and the police are tracing its whereabouts.

"Based on the collected evidence, we have informed the suspect of charges for an assault aimed at stealing someone else's property, accompanied by violence that poses a danger to the health of the assaulted person, which is qualified as robbery committed under martial law. This crime is classified under part 4 of Article 187 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. At our request, the court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention for the suspect," said senior investigator of the Odesa District Police Department No. 1 Kateryna Boratynska.

Furthermore, an investigation has been initiated regarding the bodily harm inflicted on the woman under Article 125 of the Criminal Code. After gathering evidence and conducting forensic examinations, investigators will provide the final legal qualification of the suspect's actions.