The SSU has collected evidence against russian lieutenant general Yakov Rezantsev, commander of the 49^th combined arms army of russia’s Southern military district.

On 24 February 2022, he personally ordered his subordinate units of russian troops to occupy Kherson oblast.

Under his command, russian occupation groupings invaded the southern region of Ukraine from the temporarily occupied Crimea.

According to the investigation, it was Rezantsev who ordered the seizure of a strategic airfield in Chornobaivka at any cost.

The invaders also carried out the general’s instructions to launch massive air strikes on Kherson region’s civilian infrastructure.

During the occupation of the right bank of the oblast, Rezantsev organized mass repressions against members of the resistance movement.

On his orders, people were abducted just from the streets or from their private cars as they were crossing russian checkpoints.

In this way, the russian official fulfilled the moscow’s task to spread the kremlin’s regime in southern Ukraine.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators have notified Rezantsev of suspicion in absentia under Article 28.2, 437.2 of the CCU (waging an aggressive war, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy).

Efforts are underway to bring the war criminal to justice.

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