Ukraine identifies Russians involved in supermarket guard's murder in Bucha

This information comes from the Prosecutor General's Office.

"Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office, four members of the Russian Federation's armed forces have been identified and informed of their suspicion," the statement reports.

The accused include two commanders, a self-propelled artillery gun loader, and a senior scout-rangefinder from the 1st self-propelled artillery battery within the 76th Airborne Assault Division of the Russian Federation. They are charged with violations of the laws and customs of war related to intentional murder.

The investigation determined that on February 27 of that year, during the movement of a Russian troop convoy through Bucha, a senior officer of a self-propelled artillery battery instructed his subordinates to identify anyone wearing black clothing as enemies.

"Such an instruction regarding enemy identification could result in unintentional harm to civilians, as many of them may have worn black attire. Because the principle of distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants was not observed in the order, the battery commander violated international humanitarian law norms," prosecutors explained.

The invaders under Russian command complied with the order, likely expecting protection from their military leadership.

According to law enforcement officials, the suspects later encountered a man near the Novus store in Bucha. He was wearing a black uniform with the “Security” inscription. The guard was unarmed, but they followed the commander's order and fired at the civilian with automatic weapons, causing life-threatening injuries.

In this criminal case, a prisoner of war from the same Russian Federation military unit had previously been suspected, facing charges for the same criminal offense.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until guilt is proven in a legal manner and established by a court verdict.

• The National Police of Ukraine announced the suspicion of a member of the illegal armed group "LPR" who, during the occupation of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, illegally detained and subjected more than 500 civilians to violence alongside Russian military forces.

• On August 30, the prosecutor's office sent an indictment to the court against three Russian soldiers who committed a rape during the occupation of the Kharkiv region last spring.

• On September 4, a Russian soldier was informed of the suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war for coercing girls to consume alcohol and committing sexual assault in the occupied area of the Kherson region.