The SSU has collected evidence against another militant of russian occupation groupings involved in war crimes during warfare in Kharkiv.

In the early months of russia’s full-scale invasion, he took part in storming the village of Pisky-Radkivski, Izium district.

At that time, the SSU Counterintelligence intercepted his phone conversation with his father. During the conversation, the invader bragged about how he and other ruscists robbed local population and tortured Ukrainian prisoners.

The war criminal also told his dad how russian artillery and armoured vehicles destroyed entire streets of civilian houses.

According to the investigation, the perpetrator is Stanislav Shmatov, a 22-year-old native of Samara region, russia.

Since April 2022, he has been fighting in Ukraine as part of the 15th separate motorised rifle brigade of the 2nd combined arms army of the aggressor state.

During warfare against Ukrainian Defence Forces on the eastern front, Shmatov was a mechanic-driver of an APC from which civilian homes were shelled.

The SSU-initiated examination confirmed the facts of war crimes committed by the invader and his accomplices near Izium.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators notified Shmatov of suspicion under Articles 27.5, 28.2 and 438.1 of the CCU (violation of laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy).

Efforts to bring Shmatov to justice for crimes against Ukraine are underway.

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