Russian commander who ordered to shoot civilians to be tried in Kharkiv

This was reported by the Prosecutor General's Office.

"The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office sent to court an indictment against the Russian commander of the battalion-tactical group on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder," the press service writes.

The deputy commander together with other Russian soldiers, arrived in Belgorod region. He received information about a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war and was appointed battalion tactical group commander.

On February 24 he commanded one of the battalion tactical groups, which was conducting combat operations in the East. The group approached the Kharkiv ring road from the Lyptsi village and blocked the entrance to the regional center. Local residents, who were coming from the border settlements of the region, demanded to unblock the traffic and resisted the Russian forces.

For this, the Russian commander ordered to shoot at civilian vehicles.

"Several Russian soldiers refused to comply with the criminal order, asked people to leave their cars and get out. The mother and daughter stopped. The servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces helped them to hide, but they were seen by other Russian soldiers who were ready to carry out the criminal order of their commander. They started shooting at the Russian servicemen and the women," the prosecutors wrote.

The mother died and at least two people were seriously injured. One Russian serviceman was also shot.

The daughter managed to escape. She ran to her car, a Russian soldier was lying next to her with an injury. The girl put him in the car and drove away.

"Another civilian man and woman who were standing in the traffic jam decided to turn around and leave, but the Russian forces opened fire at them. The man received a gunshot injury, but he managed to escape," the press service added.

Law enforcement officers found that the Russian commander in 2008 took part in the Russian war against Georgia and "maintained security" during the illegal referendum in Ukrainian Crimea.

On December 8, the suspect was served a notice of suspicion for violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder.

Then the SBU identified the Russian forces. It was Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeniy Zelenov.

On December 12, law enforcement officers exposed six Russian generals who gave orders to capture Ukrainian cities in the Kharkiv region.

• On October 13, a bodyguard of the Somali assault battalion of the Donetsk People's Republic with the call sign Givi was sentenced to 13 years in prison for high treason and participation in a terrorist organization.

• A Russian who guarded the entourage of the ex-leader of the Luhansk People's Republic participated in a full-scale war and was captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and will be tried in Ukraine.  

• A Donetsk resident who participated in the battles against the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a tank operator in Mariupol will be tried for treason.  

• After the occupation, they began to work for the Russian forces. Five law enforcers from Mariupol will be tried for treason, according to the State News Agency. 

• The commanders of the Russian army units from Chechnya, who tortured civilians in Hostomel and seized the Borodyanka psychoneurological boarding school, will also be tried.