The first court hearing on the merits regarding a Russian serviceman took place in the district court of Kharkiv. He is accused of cruel treatment of prisoners of war, combined with intentional murders committed by a group of individuals in premeditated conspiracy (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).

During the hearing, the prosecutor announced the indictment. The court explained the essence of the charges to the accused.

The Russian prisoner of war admitted his guilt but refused to acknowledge the civil claims of the victims. The court approved the procedure for examining evidence and began the direct consideration of the case — the first witness has already been interrogated.

As previously reported, the 36-year-old accused with the call sign "Altai" held the position of commander of a grenade launcher platoon in the motorized rifle company of the 82nd motorized rifle regiment of the 69th motorized rifle division of the Russian Armed Forces and participated in the repeated invasion of the Kharkiv region in 2024. He, along with other occupiers, occupied the territory of the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant.

Under his actual command and by order of senior command, three murders of Ukrainian prisoners of war were committed.

The prosecutor will insist in court on the imposition of the harshest punishment — life imprisonment.