The detainee claims he was a security guard at one of Donetsk's administrative offices and that he never partook in hostilities.

A mercenary of an illegal armed group of the "Donetsk People's Republic" voluntarily surrendered to Ukrainian law enforcers, ZN.ua reports citing the press service of the local police department.

"The militant decided to hand himself over to the police after he learned from the media about the possibility of avoiding criminal liability," the report says.

It is noted that the 22-year-old member of the illegal armed group reported to the police office in the town of Bahmut, saying he had joined the ranks of Russian-backed militants back in June 2014, when he was 17 years old.

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According to him, a few months before the liberation of the north of Donetsk region by the Ukrainian troops, he decided to leave the group. However, in August, he moved to the occupied Donetsk and rejoined the militants there.

The detainee claims that as part of the "DPR" battalion, he had been guarding an administrative building in Donetsk. After the start of the battle for the Donetsk Airport, he once again fled from militant ranks, the man claims.

Law enforcers will verify whether the detainee is involved in crimes against the civilian population.

If the man's story turns out to be true, he could be released from criminal liability.