The law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Lithuania reported on December 3, 2025, the suspicion of another individual involved in the criminal proceedings regarding war crimes committed by Russian military personnel during the temporary occupation of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2022.

This concerns involvement in the torture of civilians and prisoners of war in the so-called "filter camp."

The Lithuanian side is conducting this proceeding using the principle of universal jurisdiction and in close cooperation with the prosecution and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine within the framework of a joint investigation team (JIT).

Recall that in October 2025, Ukraine transferred a Russian serviceman to Lithuania, suspected of committing war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war, among whom was a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania. The crimes took place in the territory of the filter camp set up at the Melitopol military airfield.

This is the first case since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation when Ukraine transferred a detained Russian soldier to another state for prosecution based on universal jurisdiction.

What has already been established by the investigation.

During the joint pre-trial investigation, numerous war crimes have been documented:

• illegal deprivation of liberty of civilians and prisoners of war;
• torture and inhumane treatment;
• the functioning of the filter camp with the participation of personnel from the 177th Separate Marine Infantry Regiment of the Caspian Flotilla of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The suspicion reported on December 3, 2025, concerns another Russian serviceman who, according to the investigation, directly participated in the illegal detention of people, their guarding, and torture.

The Office of the Prosecutor General continues to provide comprehensive legal and procedural assistance to the Lithuanian side within the framework of the JIT.

Joint actions are aimed at identifying all individuals involved in war crimes, ensuring their search, and holding them accountable in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The investigation is ongoing.