The military investigating authorities of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation have initiated a criminal case against Senior Lieutenant Serhiy Batynsky, the training deputy commander of the fire support company of the military unit A-2777 of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the grounds of a crime under Part 1, Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (ill-treatment of the civilian population).

It has been preliminary established that in early April of this year in the city of Mariupol, Ukrainian servicemen from the aforementioned Marine Brigade detained two civilians who were riding a bicycle past a checkpoint. The civilians introduced themselves as husband and wife. Despite the fact that they had Ukrainian passports, in which there was a mark about permanent residence in Mariupol, they were detained and kept in the basement.

Having consumed alcohol, Batynsky took the detained woman out and, in violation of the requirements of the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Geneva, 12.08.1949), guaranteeing women special protection from any attempts on their honor (rape, forced prostitution or any other form of attempts on their morality), he committed violent acts of a sexual nature against her threatening to kill her. When the man held in the basement tried to stop these acts, Batynsky shot him dead.

During the preliminary investigation, Batynsky confessed to his deed. In addition, Ukrainian servicemen, who confirmed the above facts, were identified and interrogated. Other procedural and investigative actions aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the crime are being carried out in full.

The criminal investigation is ongoing.