The SSU has identified another russian occupier involved in mass killing of civilians during the occupation of Kyiv oblast.

The perpetrator is senior lieutenant Vadym Ovchynnikov, commander of a reconnaissance platoon of a reconnaissance company of the 37th separate motorised rifle brigade of the 36th combined arms army of russia’s Eastern military district.

The SSU established that his unit had been directly involved in capturing the villages of Severynivka, Motyzhyn and Kopyliv in Bucha district.

During the temporary occupation, the russian commander and his subordinates drove around the area in armoured vehicles to intimidate local population.

During one of these ‘raids’ in early March 2022, Ovchinnikov ordered to open fire at two cars with civilians, which were moving towards the enemy’s armoured personnel carrier.

Members of a Ukrainian family in those cars were trying to leave Severynivka for Uman, Cherkasy region.

As a result of russian automatic weapons fire, the husband and wife and their 15-year-old daughter were killed on the spot. Only the younger 9-year-old daughter survived.

According to the investigation, the criminal order to shoot the civilians was carried out by 5 of Ovchinnikov's subordinates:

• junior sergeant Mikhail Zharky;
• corporal Aldar Garmatarov;
• corporal Sergei Zvarychevsky;
• corporal Artem Belikov;
• private Ivan Nagumanov.

The crimes of these occupiers have also been confirmed by a russian prisoner of war, who was in the same area as Ovchinnikov’s unit at the time of the shooting.

Based on the evidence collected, SSU investigators served all six war criminals a notice of suspicion under Article 28.2, 438.1, 438.2 of the CCU (violation of laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder, committed by a group).

Comprehensive efforts are underway to bring the war criminals to justice.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region jointly with the National Police under the supervision of Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.