SSU charges five more Russian soldiers over killing of Ukrainian POWs

At an aggregate plant temporarily occupied by Russian forces, Ukrainian defenders were interrogated and killed in June and July 2024. The SSU says one prisoner was shot at a checkpoint, while two others were killed inside the administrative building.

The five newly identified suspects all served in Russia’s 82nd Motor Rifle Regiment. Major Oleg Dorokhov allegedly ordered the killings. Private Mikhail Pasenko allegedly relayed those orders. Junior sergeant Georgiy Tarnopolsky allegedly shot two defenders. Privates Ruslan Kabanov and Vladislav Bortsov allegedly provided cover.

The SSU formally notified all five in absentia of suspicion under Ukraine’s war-crimes law. Their cases add to the earlier conviction of Sergey Tuzhilov, who received life imprisonment. Investigators are continuing measures aimed at bringing the suspects to justice.

A prisoner of war is a captured combatant or other eligible member of an opposing armed force held by the enemy during an armed conflict. Captivity removes a person from the fighting, but it does not remove basic legal protections. The person remains protected from execution, torture, abuse, and humiliating treatment.

The article describes Ukrainian defenders being interrogated, tied to posts, and shot after capture. Those acts matter because captured soldiers are no longer lawful targets merely because they fought for the opposing side. They must be treated humanely and protected from violence.

The laws of war also require proper care and protection for detainees. Alleged violations can lead to criminal investigations and prosecutions. Here, the SSU documented the suspects’ alleged roles and formally notified them of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

The investigation identified three Ukrainian prisoners who were allegedly killed at the aggregate plant. One was shot in June 2024 after being taken to a checkpoint near the administrative building. Two more were captured about two weeks later and killed on July 3, 2024.

Six Russian soldiers are connected to the case through charges or sentencing. The five newly identified suspects are Oleg Dorokhov, Mikhail Pasenko, Georgiy Tarnopolsky, Ruslan Kabanov, and Vladislav Bortsov. The SSU notified each of them in absentia of suspicion.

The sixth is Sergey Tuzhilov, also known as “Altay.” He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment after SSU evidence showed that he personally killed one Ukrainian serviceman and helped organize the executions of two others. The five new cases remain part of ongoing efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

The investigation describes a repeated pattern of detention, questioning, and execution. In June 2024, Russian troops captured one Ukrainian prisoner of war and took him to a checkpoint near the facility’s administrative building. After interrogation, he was shot in the head.

About two weeks later, Russian troops captured two more Ukrainian defenders. They were brought to the plant and interrogated. The investigators say the soldiers were then tied to posts inside the administrative building, leaving them restrained and unable to resist.

On July 3, 2024, the two bound prisoners were taken to a utility room. The SSU says they were shot in the back of the head. The alleged treatment is central to the investigation because it describes killings after capture, rather than deaths during combat.

A formal notification in absentia means authorities have officially identified a person as suspected of a crime even though that person is not present. It lets investigators document the alleged conduct, preserve evidence, and continue procedural steps without waiting for the suspect to appear.

In this case, the SSU notified five Russian soldiers in absentia of suspected violations of the laws and customs of war combined with intentional murder. The notice concerns Part 2 of Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. The actions of two suspects were also classified as aiding and abetting.

Such a notification is not the same as a final conviction. Further proceedings may lead to an indictment, a trial, and a judgment if the suspects can be brought before a court. It can also create a formal basis for future enforcement steps, subject to applicable law and the suspect’s eventual availability.

Criminal responsibility is not limited to the person who physically fires a weapon. A commander who orders an unlawful killing can be responsible because the order directs or enables the crime. Other participants may also be responsible when they knowingly help carry it out.

The article gives clear examples. Major Oleg Dorokhov allegedly ordered prisoners to be killed. Private Mikhail Pasenko allegedly relayed those orders to the perpetrators. Privates Ruslan Kabanov and Vladislav Bortsov allegedly provided cover during an execution. The SSU classified two suspects’ actions as aiding and abetting.

This approach recognizes the crime as a group act rather than an isolated shot. The alleged roles helped organize, communicate, or protect the executions. The suspects were notified of suspicion, but guilt must still be established through legal proceedings. The investigation is continuing to pursue those responsible.

The laws and customs of war are rules that limit how armed conflicts are conducted. They protect people who are not fighting and regulate the treatment of those who are captured, wounded, or otherwise hors de combat. Their purpose is to reduce suffering and prevent unlawful violence.

The article describes Ukrainian defenders being captured, interrogated, restrained, and shot. One was killed at a checkpoint, while two were shot in the back of the head after being tied to posts. These details matter because the men were allegedly prisoners, not active opponents in a firefight.

Intentionally killing unarmed prisoners is therefore treated as a serious war crime. Ukraine’s SSU formally notified five suspects of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 438, covering violations of the laws and customs of war combined with intentional murder. Two suspects were also classified as aiders and abettors.