In particular, the SBU refers to Article 278 "Hijacking or seizure of railway rolling stock, aircraft, ship or boat," Article 279 "Blocking transport communications, as well as the seizure of a transport company," Article 280 "Compulsion of transport staff to non-fulfillment of duties" of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
It is noted that the activists create preconditions to the disruption of stable operations of the Ukrainian energy system (including five Ukrainian thermal power plants, which generate up to 15% of thermal generation, as disruptions in supply of anthracite coal will lead to a shortage of generating capacity in Ukraine's United Energy Grid and force the authorities to implement rolling blackouts).
Read alsoProtesters vow to indefinitely block rail lines to eastern UkraineAccording to the SBU, the blockade is also causing direct losses to the state (as of January 25, 2017, a total of 385 rail cars with 26,950 tonnes of coal worth UAH 35.035 million, more than 20,000 of empty rail cars, as well as the property of PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia remained in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions). This may lead to an increase in the number of citizens who, after losing their jobs, will be inclined to join the ranks of illegal armed groups.
In addition, the SBU says that the actions of the activists have a negative impact on the process of hostage release.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian nationalists vowed to indefinitely block a railway line into eastern Ukraine to protest against trade with Russia-backed separatists.
