The Security Service of Ukraine announced the suspicion to the Deputy Defence Minister of Russia - the Chief of the Main Directorate for Political-Military Affairs of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Andrii Kartapolov.

The Deputy Defence Minister is suspected of:

• trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine;
• waging of an aggressive war;
• violation of rules of the warfare, accompanied with an intended murder.

In January-February 2015, Andrii Kartapolov, holding the position of Chief of the Main Operational Department - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was planning and coordinating the actions of the aggressor's armed forces and subordinate IAFs to capture Debaltsevo and surrounding settlements.

According to the SBU investigators, he acted by prior agreement with other members of the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces.

Apart from that, it was established that in August, 2014 Andrii Kartapolov together with other representatives of command of the Armed Forces of Russia:

• provided planning and management of Russian units during their invasion of Ukraine,
• participated in the organization of the treacherous murder of Ukrainian soldiers near the city of Ilovaisk during their exit by the so-called "green corridor" under the provided "guarantees" of the leadership of Russia,
• provided further armed occupation of other settlements of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The pre-trial investigation is carried out under the supervision of the prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the commission of the incriminated crimes.