Russian general to be tried for storming Azovstal, ordering to attack civilians in Donetsk region

The case of the Russian general who ordered the storming of Azovstal and the shelling of civilians in the Donetsk region has been sent to court

This was reported by the Prosecutor General's Office.

“The commander of the Russian army is accused of committing intentional actions to change the boundaries of the territory or state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine, which led to the death of people and other serious consequences, as well as in waging an aggressive war,” the press service wrote. 

The investigation found that at the command posts of the occupation army in Mariupol, Manhush, Nikolske, Staryi Krym, the villages of Kalchyk, Shevchenkove, Zhovtneve and Pryazovske, the commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces planned, coordinated and controlled the soldiers. The Russian soldier ordered the shelling of civilians in the Donetsk region.

The accused took part in a meeting with the heads of the pseudo-republic of the 'DPR' and the Chechen Republic and developed a plan to seize the city of Mariupol and storm the Azovstal metallurgical plant, where civilians and military personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were blocked in partially destroyed bomb shelters.

“Prosecutors have sent an indictment to the court in the framework of a special pre-trial investigation against the commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. From February 24 to May 2022, pursuant to orders of the military and political leadership of the aggressor state, he personally supervised subordinate units during the invasion of the territory of Donetsk region,” the prosecutor's office said.

Currently, the accused is in hiding and is wanted.