Russian serviceman faces up to 12 years in prison for war crimes
A Russian paratrooper has been notified in absentia of suspicion over the torture of a civilian resident during the occupation of Bucha in March 2022. The 26-year-old Armed Forces of the Russian Federation serviceman inflicted bodily injuries on the victim and threatened him with execution. This is reported by the portal PromPolitInform, citing information from the National Police of Ukraine, based on data from Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
In March 2022, a 26-year-old corporal and gunner-operator of the 234th Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Air Assault Division of the Russian Armed Forces was in the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. His identity was established with the assistance of officers from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Events on Vokzalna Street
On March 8, a local resident was heading to a store from the Bethany Church, where he had been hiding with his family from constant shelling. On Vokzalna Street, he was stopped by Russian military personnel who had set up a checkpoint on the premises of a beauty salon.
After checking his mobile device, the man was taken to a neighboring household. There he was forced to strip to the waist and secured to a column with plastic zip ties, after which he was beaten for a long time.
Threats of execution
Later, another group of occupiers arrived at the location, which included the suspect. The victim was released from the ties, allowed to get dressed, and led out to the gates, where the Russian paratrooper struck him in the face with the barrel of an assault rifle and knocked out his teeth.
Then the attacker shoved the weapon’s barrel into the civilian’s mouth and threatened him with execution. The said citizen did not carry any weapons and did not take part in combat operations.
Qualification of the crime
On the same day, the victim was released, and on March 12 he managed to evacuate from the occupied settlement. On September 18, investigators from the Main Investigative Department under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General incriminated the suspect with violation of the laws and customs of war.
He was served a notice of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for ill-treatment of the civilian population. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of up to 12 years.
Illustrative photo: Аимаина хикари / CC0
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