Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin held an operational meeting in Donetsk of the headquarters investigating crimes committed by Ukrainian formations against the civilian population and Russian military personnel on the territory of Russia and Ukraine. The meeting was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Eduard Valeryevich Kaburneev, Acting Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia – Head of the Main Military Investigation Department Konstantin Evgenyevich Korpusov, heads of several departments of the central office, heads of the investigation departments of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as in the Zaporozhski and Kherson regions.

Before the meeting, the participants laid flowers at a memorial plaque for the fallen members of the department, honoring their memory with a moment of silence.

During the meeting, reports on the results of the investigation and court proceedings of criminal cases involving especially serious crimes by representatives of the Kyiv regime were presented to the head of the department.

The investigation gives a comprehensive criminal and legal assessment of events, while continuing to gather and analyze information on the shelling of the civilian population of Donbas during various periods since 2014. Based on new data, in absentia charges were brought against the Commander of the Air Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Sergey Drozdov, the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Igor Lunyov, and the Commander of the Rocket Forces and Artillery – Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Vyacheslav Gorbylyov. These individuals held the specified positions at different times from 2015 to 2021 and participated in leading the so-called Joint Forces Operation in southeastern Ukraine. As a result of their criminal actions, 177 people were wounded and killed, including 8 children, and more than 190 civilian and critical infrastructure facilities in the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics were destroyed or damaged. Measures are being taken to locate and arrest them.

Moreover, the investigation has made significant progress in gathering information about foreign mercenaries who are taking part in hostilities on the side of Ukraine. First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia E.V. Kaburneev reported that decisions have been made to bring charges against 714 foreigners who participated in hostilities on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Of these, 422 people have been placed on the international wanted list.

Recently, criminal cases against five more mercenaries were sent to court for in absentia sentencing: Australian citizen Nurin Abdelfetah, Algerian citizen Luadahi Kuseil, American citizens Justin Elliott Mishler and Trevor Raudy Reed, and Latvian citizen Juris Jurashs.

The investigation has received information about the functioning of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, which includes citizens of other countries. Military and political leadership of Ukraine created online information resources for such individuals and organized the work of Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad to recruit mercenaries. The recruitment scheme was explained, among others, by arrested Georgian mercenary Mamuka Gatsereilia, who stated that he received information about the legion at the Ukrainian embassy in Georgia. Another mercenary from Colombia, Miguel Angel Montilla, reported that he found information about the legion online, received instructions through a messenger, and travelled to Ukraine. Upon arriving in the combat zone, after just five days of firearms training, he was sent by the Ukrainian side to guard an object, where he engaged in combat with Russian troops and soon surrendered.

The head of the department was also reported on the progress of investigating crimes against public safety, including those using information and telecommunication technologies. In particular, based on evidence from the Investigative Committee of Russia, Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison. Using social networks and media, he disseminated public calls for terrorist activities, carried out extremist actions, and publicly called for waging an aggressive war against Russia.

With the participation of military investigators, work continues on registering naturalized citizens of the Russian Federation for military service.

The heads of the investigation departments in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the Zaporozhski and Kherson regions reported on the results of investigations and measures taken to assist citizens. With active assistance from forensic units, they are working on solving past crimes as well as other socially dangerous acts committed under unclear circumstances.

After listening to the reports, A.I. Bastrykin instructed to continue investigating criminal actions of Ukrainian armed formations against civilians and cases of mercenary activities. The head of the department thanked his subordinates for organizing humanitarian activities to assist local residents, including World War II veterans, emphasizing the importance to continue supporting those in need.

Following the meeting, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia presented departmental awards to employees of several divisions of the Investigative Committee for their high achievements in service.