The Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia launched a criminal investigation on the offense of a crime prescribed in Part 1, Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (ill-treatment of the civilian persons, use of banned means and methods of warfare), against the commander of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mr. Ivan Vinnik, as well as other military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who are already the defendants in other criminal cases, including military personnel of the 56th separate motorized infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Sergey Sirchenko, Dmitry Gerasimenko, Vyacheslav Bugaychuk, Alexander Bondarenko, Miroslav Verkhovoy, Artem Puchkov, Gennady Boyko and 68th separate jaeger brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yury Belyakov.

According to the investigation, during the day on September 25, 2022, these servicemen issued and executed criminal orders for targeted artillery attacks from heavy weapons on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Donetsk and Gorlovka, as well as the Yasinovka settlement of the Donetsk People's Republic.

As a result of shelling, two members of the visiting election commission of the Nikitovsky raion of Gorlovka were injured, 5 houses and civilian infrastructure were damaged.

In addition, a criminal case has been launched in the Investigative Committee of Russia in accordance with Part 1, Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (ill- treatment of the civilian personnel, use of banned means and methods of warfare), against servicemen of the 30th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Zinevich, Nikolai Perestupnyak, 56th separate motorized infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Sergey Sirchenko, Dmitry Gerasimenko, Vyacheslav Bugaychuk, Alexander Bondarenko , Miroslav Verkhovy, Artem Puchkov, Gennady Boyko and 68 separate jaeger brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Belyakov and other servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, during the day on September 24, 2022, these servicemen issued and executed criminal orders for targeted artillery shelling from heavy weapons, civilian infrastructure facilities in the cities of Donetsk, Yenakiyevo, Makeevka and Gorlovka, as well as the settlements of Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk People's Republic. As a result of shelling, 6 civilians were injured, 18 houses and civilian infrastructure were damaged, including the buildings of two schools and a kindergarten.

The Russian Investigative Committee continues to identify units of the Ukrainian armed formations and specific individuals involved in the shelling of civilians.