The SSU has identified another russian invader involved in mass torture and murder of civilians during temporary occupation of Kyiv oblast.

The occupier is lieutenant Nursultan Mussagaleyev, commander of a reconnaissance platoon of the 104^th air assault regiment of the 76^th air assault division of russian armed forces (based in Pskov).

After the invaders fled from Kyiv region, russia’s top military and political leadership awarded Mussagaleyev the ‘hero of russia’ star and the medal ‘for combat distinctions’. russian propagandists then filmed a story about him, which was broadcast in prime time on russia 1 TV channel.

The investigation established that on 24 February 2022 he had crossed Ukraine’s northern border as part of russian occupation groupings and arrived in Bucha district to prepare for an offensive on Kyiv.

While there, Mussagaleyev took part in the so-called ‘cleansing operations’ aimed at suppressing the resistance movement and intimidating local population.

During one of these punitive raids, the commander ordered his subordinates to kidnap a 29-year-old local resident who was driving a car through the enemy checkpoint.

The captors accused him of ‘helping the Ukrainian military build fortifications near Kyiv’. The ‘reason’ for this was photos of construction materials found on his mobile phone.

The victim was taken to a forest near Dmytrivka village, where he was brutally tortured for a long time, and then, on Mussagaleyev’s orders, shot dead. His body was left on the scene of the murder.

In the course of the investigation, the SSU received a testimony from a russian prisoner of war who served in Mussagaleyev’s unit in the early months of the invasion. The PoW confirmed the fact of torture and execution of a resident of Bucha district.

Two other subordinates of the suspected commander, who shot the victim, have also been identified. They are the deputy platoon commander, senior sergeant Aleksey Kolesnikov, and the commander of the unit’s 2^nd division, sergeant Aleksandr Viselkov.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators served Mussagaleyev and his two accomplices notices of suspicion under Articles 28.1, 438.1, 438.2 of the CCU (violation of laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons).

The suspects are in the territory not controlled by Ukraine; comprehensive efforts are underway to bring them to justice. Each of the war criminals will be found and punished.

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