Events

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, held an operational meeting in Donetsk with the task force investigating crimes committed by Ukrainian armed forces against civilians and Russian military personnel. The meeting was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, E.V. Kaburneev, Acting Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia and Head of the Main Military Investigative Department, K.E. Korpusov, heads of the central apparatus departments, and the heads of the investigative departments of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Zaporozhye, Kursk, and Kherson regions.

Since 2014, the Investigative Committee of Russia has been investigating criminal cases related to crimes against peace and humanity committed by the armed formations of Ukraine. Over this period, more than 5,300 cases have been opened against members of the military and political leadership of the Kyiv regime, radical nationalist groups, and representatives of law enforcement agencies. To date, preliminary investigations have been completed on 355 criminal cases involving 496 defendants. As a result of the court proceedings, 412 individuals have been convicted, with 32 receiving life sentences.

A total of 785 foreign mercenaries who participated in combat activities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for financial compensation have been brought to criminal responsibility. For instance, a criminal case against Georgian citizen Georgiy Goglidze has been submitted for trial with an indictment. The investigation has established that in April 2023, he arrived in the Lviv region of Ukraine, underwent special military training, and was then sent to the temporarily Ukrainian-occupied city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), where he participated in combat operations for financial compensation. During an attempt to move a group of mercenaries from the DPR to the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), there was a clash with Russian military forces, resulting in some mercenaries being eliminated, while others, including Goglidze, were detained. A comprehensive investigative process involving Goglidze was conducted, gathering substantial evidence confirming his involvement in the crime.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia was also briefed on the work conducted with victims of the Kyiv regime's aggression in the Kursk region. Investigators interviewed and recognized as victims more than 8,000 people in temporary refugee shelters. During the preliminary investigation, instances of Ukrainian militants deliberately using FPV drones and large-caliber machine guns against civilians in the Kursk region have been confirmed.

The Forensic Expert Center of the Investigative Committee of Russia continues its work in assessing the damage caused by Ukrainian Armed Forces to settlements in the newly incorporated regions and the border areas of the Russian Federation. In 2024, experts from the Forensic Expert Center conducted more than 700 comprehensive construction and technical evaluations, examining over 3,000 buildings and infrastructure objects, with their restoration costs estimated at more than 7.5 billion rubles.

The Investigative Committee of Russia is also carrying out large-scale efforts to document the crimes of Nazi occupiers during the Great Patriotic War and to preserve the memory of the defenders of the Motherland. The head of the department was briefed on the interim results of search operations in the new regions, where civilians and Red Army prisoners of war were executed by fascists during the Nazi occupation. Forensic examinations have been ordered and are being conducted on the discovered remains and ammunition, and measures are being taken to bury Soviet soldiers with military honors. After listening to the reports, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia emphasized the importance of this work and added: "And don't forget to visit the veterans."

Additionally, the head of the department listened to reports from division heads on the provision of humanitarian aid to Russian military personnel and residents of regions affected by Ukrainian militant attacks. A.I. Bastrykin instructed that this work continue and that the rights of the victims be strictly upheld.

During the event, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia laid flowers at the memorial plaque honoring the officers of the department who died in the line of duty. He also presented departmental awards to employees who showed courage and dedication in fulfilling their professional duties.