A Ukrainian sailor attempted to sink his boss' $7 million yacht on Saturday after he watched a video of a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Kyiv, and realized that his boss could have supplied the missile.
Taras Ostapchuk, 55, worked as a yacht mechanic on the Lady Anastasia, and told local authorities it's owned by a Russian arms tycoon, according to The Washington Post.
Alexander Mijeev, CEO of the Russian military weapons company, Rosoboronexport, owns the yacht, according to The New York Post.
The yacht was docked at the luxe Port Adriano in Mallorca, an island in Spain. Ostapchuk later said that he opened two valves after warning those on the ship to get off because he didn't want to harm anyone.
"I told myself: 'What do I need a job for if I don’t have a country?'," Ostapchuk told the Spanish newspaper Ultima Hora.
Three crew members reportedly protested what he had done, while other called authorities, according to court documents. Ostapchuk was arrested by Civil Guard national police, and was taken into custody after officers arrived and saw water filling the yacht from the two open valves.
He appeared in a Spanish courtroom on Sunday, and explained that he viewed his boss as a criminal and wanted to protect his home country of Ukraine.
"I don't regret anything I've done, and I would do it again," Ostapchuk said, according to Ultima Hora.
Neus Canyelles Nicolau, Ostapchuk’s attorney, spoke to The Washington Post on Monday and explained more of the incident.
"He told me, 'I admit to what I did, but I'm not a criminal. The criminal and the one who is really guilty here is the owner of the boat,'" Nicolau said.
Ostapchuk faces charges of damaging private property, but his lawyer said the judge ordered him to be released and there is a current investigation underway.
She added that upon his release, Ostapchuk planned to fly to Warsaw and then travel to Kyiv. He told reporters that once he arrives that he plans to join Ukrainian forces and defend his country against Russia.
"I’m going to fight. As soon as I reach the first Ukrainian city I will look for a military commander and ask him if they need me," Ostapchuk told Ultima Hora.
"I will not lose my country," Ostapchuk said. "I am not a hero; I am an older man, but with a lot of experience in mechanics. I have never held a gun, but if it’s necessary, I will. Why not?"
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