Ukraine serves suspicion notices to Russian generals for 2022 Sumy bombing

This was reported by the SBU.

The SBU stated they had gathered evidence against Russian generals who, in May 2022, ordered a strike on civilian infrastructure in the Sumy region using a guided aerial bomb (UPAB-1500B type).

"This was the first instance of the Russians employing such a powerful munition against civilian targets in the Sumy region," the SBU emphasized.

The guided aerial bomb impacted an agricultural complex within the Putyvl community, resulting in the destruction of several buildings belonging to a local agricultural company and causing damage to two colleges.

According to the SBU investigation, Colonel General Alexander Zhuravlev, commander of Russia's Western Military District, and Lieutenant General Alexei Zavizon, his first deputy, planned the air attack on a local agricultural enterprise.

Zhuravlev requested air support from Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov, commander of the Russian Air Force, who approved the request. Following Dronov's order, a Su-34 bomber took off from the Akhtubinsk airfield and executed the strike on the Ukrainian enterprise.

The investigation also identified four other Russian officials involved in the preparation and implementation of the air attack. All are subordinate to Dronov:

• Major General Sergey Meshcheryakov, Chief of Staff - First Deputy Commander of the Russian Air Force
• Major General Radik Bariev, Head of the 929th Flight Test Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense
• Colonel Viktor Mokhovikov, Chief of Staff of the 929th Center
• Colonel Maxim Stefanov, Deputy Head of the 929th Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense

Based on the collected evidence, SBU investigators issued in absentia suspicion notices against seven Russian officials under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons in advance of a conspiracy).

• A Russian soldier who raped and intimidated two girls in the Kherson region was sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia by a Ukrainian court.