A resident of Rivne avoided punishment for setting fire to a house following a dispute with his wife.

The Rivne City Court has delivered a verdict against 57-year-old Hennadiy Pokutny, who set fire to their shared house following a conflict with his wife. For his actions, the man has been sentenced to one year of probation.

As previously reported by ZAXID.NET, the incident on Doroshenka Street in Rivne occurred on June 6, 2024. According to the investigation, around 2:10 PM, Hennadiy Pokutny expelled his 55-year-old wife from their home, gathered trash in the middle of the room, and set it ablaze. When the woman noticed the smoke, she immediately asked passersby to call the firefighters, as her mobile phone was left inside the house.

When the emergency services arrived at the scene, they extinguished the flames and brought the accused, found unconscious in one of the rooms, out into the fresh air. He was hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning and was released after receiving treatment.

“As a result of the fire, the walls, ceilings, and roofing of the house were damaged, and household items were destroyed. Additionally, due to the high temperature, two neighboring apartments and windows in the nearby high-rise building were also affected,” the rescuers noted.

According to the court documents, besides the accused and his wife, two other individuals also lived in the house. The total damage from the fire was assessed by specialists at 922,000 UAH.

Hennadiy Pokutny admitted his guilt and asked the court not to impose a severe punishment. He explained that he took flammable foam, soaked it in glue, and set it on fire. He did not clarify the motive for his actions, but law enforcement suggested that the man had a quarrel with his wife the day before.

Judge Yevheniy Sydoruk found the 57-year-old Rivne resident guilty under Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional destruction or damage to property by arson), but released him from the main punishment and assigned a one-year conditional sentence. Additionally, Hennadiy Pokutny is required to pay 31,805 UAH for expert consultations. The decision can still be appealed in the appellate court.