The suspect is a 36-year-old junior sergeant, a shooter in the assault platoon of the 1st motorized rifle battalion of the 82nd motorized rifle regiment, who served as the deputy commander of a group of servicemen stationed at the captured Vovchansk Aggregate Plant during the aggressor's renewed offensive in the Kharkiv region from May to September 2024. Under his actual command and by order of senior command, Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed.

The first incident was documented on June 16, 2024. A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — a grenade launcher, having lost orientation in the combat zone, accidentally entered the positions of the Russian occupiers, who at that time controlled the territory of the plant. The lack of weapons and the overwhelming enemy forces forced the Ukrainian fighter to surrender.

After the interrogation conducted by the suspect along with other occupiers, the gathered information was passed to the command, and subsequently, an order was issued for the execution of the prisoner of war.

The suspect suggested one of his subordinates for the role of executor, provided detailed instructions, chose the execution site — a checkpoint on the territory of the plant — and personally provided cover. The serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot in the head with an automatic weapon.

The next episode occurred on July 2-3, 2024. During a battle in the Vovchansk area, two Ukrainian servicemen were captured by Russian troops. They were taken to the territory of the plant, where they were tied to poles in the so-called "admin" room.

After the interrogation, the suspect relayed the obtained information to the commander, who in turn again ordered the execution of the prisoners of war. This time, the suspect personally participated in the killing. Together with another serviceman from the Russian Armed Forces, he coordinated the execution plan: each was to kill one of the captives.

On July 3, the suspect and his accomplice led two Ukrainian defenders into a utility room on the territory of the plant, brought them inside, and each shot their victim in the back of the head with automatic weapons.

After the execution, the bodies of the prisoners of war were left at the crime scene.

On September 24, special units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, during the successful completion of the operation to liberate the territory of the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant, captured Russian figures, including the suspect. 

They were taken to one of the frontline cities in the Kharkiv region, where prosecutors conducted their initial interrogation to establish all circumstances and uncover war crimes. 

In addition, investigative actions are being carried out to identify those who issued orders for the killing of prisoners of war. Based on the results of the examination of the collected evidence, these individuals will be notified of suspicion (in absentia). Progress has already been made in this direction. The investigation is ongoing.

Under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the detained serviceman has been notified of suspicion for cruel treatment of prisoners of war, combined with intentional murder, committed by a group of individuals in conspiracy, as well as for aiding such a crime (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 438, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine as amended until October 24, 2024).

The pre-trial investigation and operational support are conducted by the SBU Office in the Kharkiv region.