Police served notice of charges to the head of the Northern Wind reconnaissance team, who facilitated the occupation of the Crimea by the Russian Federation, the National Police in the Crimea and Sevastopol reported.

"On July 18, 2019, investigators of the Crimean police, together with the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, served notice of charges to the citizen "F", born in 1973, who on February 28, 2014 took the lead of theNorthern Wind - the illegal reconnaissance group, which was s part of the "Self-defense of the Crimea" illegal armed group and contributed to the occupation of the peninsula of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the Russian Federation," reads the message.

A criminal case in Participation in the activities of armed groups not provided for by the law was opened.

The man faces up to 8 years in prison.

Police also reports that the data on the suspect has already been applied for putting the suspect into the state and international wanted list.

Russia annexed Crimea after the illegal referendum on March 16, 2014. Ukraine does not recognize Crimea’s annexation, and the majority of the Western countries, which imposed political and economic sanctions against Russia.