Ukraine’s Security Service issues suspicion notice for Russian General Gostev involved in Mariupol bombing

This was reported by the SBU press centre.

"We are talking about Lieutenant General Nikolai Gostev, the commander of the 4th Army of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Southern Military District of the Russian Aerospace Forces (Rostov-on-Don)," the statement said.

In the period from February 24 to the end of May 2022, the suspect commanded subordinate units of Russian aviation, which participated in the seizure of part of the territory of Donetsk region.

According to the SBU, it was on the orders of Gostev that the Russian forces carried out massive missile and bomb attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Mariupol.

Law enforcement officers found that the Russian attacks resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children, as well as the destruction of residential buildings and hospitals.

"To carry out the attacks, the invading Russian forces used air-to-ground missiles and aircraft bombs, including banned phosphorus munitions," the SBU said.

In addition, according to law enforcement, the Russian general personally commanded combat aviation units that provided support to Russian ground forces during the assault on cities in Donetsk region.

SBU investigators served Gostev a notice of suspicion under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

P. 2, Art. 28 (committing a criminal offence by a group of persons by prior conspiracy);

P. 3 of Article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, if it led to the death of people and other grave consequences);

P. 2, Art. 437 (waging an aggressive war or aggressive military actions).

The articles provide for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Note: in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.

• The head and inspector of the penal colony in Olenivka, where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held, were notified of suspicion of ill-treatment, including physical and sexual violence.