The SSU has collected evidence against another high-ranking russian official involved in the deaths and mass repressions in the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk oblast.

This is lieutenant general Igor Semylyak, commander of the ‘main directorate of russia’s national guard in donetsk people’s republic’ established by the aggressor.

This occupation institution was formed on the kremlin’s instructions to carry out mass repressions against the population of the region and establish control over the temporarily occupied territories.

Since the beginning of 2023, on Semylyak’s orders, his subordinates have been conducting so-called forced ‘filtration’ of local residents.

Some of them, who were considered potential members of the resistance movement, were abducted and imprisoned in local concentration camps operating under the cover of seventeen ‘filtration points’.

In the jails, the victims were subjected to psychological pressure, death threats and physical torture, which led to grave consequences for many of them.

According to the investigation, Semylyak was appointed head of the local ‘branch’ of the russian guard in early 2023.

Later, a significant number of militants from the russian private military company Wagner and the Vostok battalion joined this occupation unit.

In order to cover larger areas of the region with repressions, three regiments of the 116^th separate special forces brigade of the russian guard were sent to reinforce Semylyak’s grouping.

The russian general used this manpower to create additional special police units of ‘OMON’ and ‘SOBR’.

The SSU has notified Semylyak of suspicion in absentia under three Articles of the CCU:

• 110.3 (intentional actions to change the boundaries of the territory and the state border of Ukraine, committed by a person who is a representative of the authorities, which led to the death of people and other grave consequences);
• 258-3.1 (creation of a terrorist organization, leadership of and participation in such an organization, organizational and other assistance to creation and activities of a terrorist organization);
• 260.2, 260.3 (creation, leadership and participation in the activities of an unlawful armed formation, its financing, supply of weapons, ammunition and military equipment).

The criminal is in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine; efforts to bring him to justice are underway.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Ivano-Frankivsk region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.