The SSU has identified a russian FSB officer involved in war crimes against civilians during the occupation of Kharkiv region.

The suspect is colonel Maksym Zhyvylo, an officer of the 9^th directorate of the operational information department of the FSB’s 5^th service.

At the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, he was appointed to head a group responsible for suppressing the resistance movement in the occupied area.

In Chuhuiv district, the FSB unit under his leadership tracked down and abducted Ukrainian patriots.

According to the investigation, in April 2022 this group caught a local resident, tied him up and took him to their torture chamber.

The man was severely beaten, subjected to electric shocks, his lips and gums were pierced and his teeth - filed.

Zhyvylo personally participated in the torture.

In this way, the russian special service official was trying to force the victim to cooperate with the aggressor.

Zhyvylo also fully controlled the transport of goods through the occupation checkpoints to russia and approved such ‘trips’ in writing.

Under his signature, the invaders transported more than 20 trucks with looted property to russia. These were mostly stolen luxury cars, boats, ATVs and agricultural machinery.

For each truck, the looters paid a ‘tribute’ to the FSB official in cash. The ‘tax’ depended on the type and quantity of the cargo.

SSU investigators have notified Zhyvylo of suspicion in absentia under Articles 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 are underway to bring him to justice for crimes against Ukraine.

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