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The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia holds a brief meeting in Mariupol on the investigation of the crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists

Mr. Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, held a brief meeting in Mariupol of the headquarters for the investigation of crimes committed by Ukrainian formations against civilians and Russian military personnel on the territory of the LPR, DPR and Ukraine. It was attended by Mr. Eduard Valerievich Kaburneev, First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Mr. Konstantin Evgenievich Korpusov, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia - Head of the Main Military Investigation Directorate, Mr. Anatoly Ivanovich Sazonov, Acting Head of the Main Forensic Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Mr. Mikhail Anatolyevich Ignashkin, Deputy Director of the Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee, Mr. Sergey Vasilyevich Petrov, Head of the Directorate of Educational Work, Hero of Russia, senior staff, officers of the Main Body, including the Main Investigative Directorate, as well as Military Investigative bodies of the Russian Investigative Committee.

The participants discussed the results of criminal investigations of crimes committed by Kiev regime, determined further steps in the organization of work, taking to consideration the declaration of will of the citizens of the republics and regions of Ukraine to join Russia.

The Head of the Department was informed about the work, which has already been done to investigate the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against the peace and security of mankind.

Since the previous meeting of the headquarters, 21 criminal cases have been submitted to the competent authorities of the DPR and LPR. In total, 101 criminal cases have been transferred to the prosecutor's office. Among them there are the following: the case against senior lieutenant Oleg Kolmychevsky, head of the RKhBZ (Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces) service of the 37th separate motorized infantry battalion "Zaporozhye" of the 56th separate motorized infantry brigade; he is accused of ill-treatment of civilians. According to the investigation, in March 2022, while in Mariupol, he gave an illegal order to the servicemen of his unit to kill civilians passing near the positions occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was detected that privates Dobrovolsky and Romashin repeatedly reported to Kolmychevsky about the location of unarmed civilians, and each time they received the same order - to kill them. During the investigation, Mr. Dobrovolsky and Mr. Romashin reported that they were aware of their criminal actions and confirmed that 8 civilians were killed as a result of the execution of the obviously illegal orders given by Mr. Kolmychevsky.

Out of 101 finilized criminal proceedings, 74 are the cases of killings of civilians, 27 are the cases of destruction of civilian infrastructure as a result of shelling. 134 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were detained during a special military operation, are brought to criminal responsibility, 25 of them are officers, 17 sergeants and 92 enlisted personnel.

During the investigation, in the liberated territory of the Starobelsky raion of the LPR, near the Polovinkino village, the base of the Ukrainian nationalist battalion "Aidar" was discovered, which was converted into a torture prison; it was equipped and located in a former meat processing plant. The territory of the base was fortified, surrounded by a concrete fence with barbed wire; there were several firing positions at the base. The cells for the detainees were located in the workshop of the former smokehouses.

The investigation carried out a detailed inspection of the territory of the prison. Two former prisoners were identified and interrogated, who spoke in detail about the atrocities of the Nazis. During their stay in the captivity of the Aidar battalion, at least 30 detainees were kept there, at least 7 of them, unable to withstand the torture, died or were killed. The purpose of the militants, among other things, was to obtain a ransom from the relatives of the abducted and held civilians.

Currently, investigative and operational measures are being taken to identify the persons held at the indicated above base of the Aidar battalion, as well as the militants of this Ukrainian national formation involved in the kidnapping and torture of people.

As a result, work continues to evaluate the damage caused as a result of shelling by representatives of the MFU of civilian infrastructure facilities in the settlements of the DPR and the LPR. The Department's experts assess damaged buildings and structures. The cost of these facilities exceeds 560 billion rubles, and their restoration will require at least 211 billion rubles.

After listening to the reports of his subordinates, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee emphasized that the main task for the Officers of the Department is to collect and document irrefutable evidence in order to exclude the facts of impunity for the criminal actions of the Ukrainian regime against the peace and security of mankind, the interests of Russia and its citizens. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin added that during the formation of the bodies of the Investigative Committee on the territories of the DPR and LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts with the status of investigative bodies of the subjects of Russia, it is necessary to continue building complex interaction with law enforcement and other involved structures of the regions.

At the meeting, it was noted that the work of the Russian Investigative Committee to provide humanitarian assistance and evacuate children who suffered as a result of the criminal actions of Ukrainian nationalists continues. Students of departmental educational institutions provide volunteer assistance to those in need.

During the trip, the Head of the Department visited the building of the Mariupol Philharmonic Society, where he inspected the premises, potentially allowing for significant trials in criminal cases on the crimes of Kiev regime.

In the final part of the meeting, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin awarded the Officers of various divisions of the Russian Investigative Committee with departmental medals, noting the high level of their professionalism, courage and dedication in the performance of duty.