The SSU has identified five russian servicemen who committed war crimes against civilians during the temporary occupation of Sumy region.

These are servicemen of the 423^rd motorized rifle regiment of the 4^th tank division of the 1^st tank army of russia’s Western military district:

• senior lieutenant Aleksey Ryzhkovich, commander of the 2^nd motorized rifle company of the 1^st motorized rifle battalion;
• lieutenant Maksym Volchek, commander of the 3^rd motorized rifle company, 1^st motorized rifle battalion;
• sergeant Rustam Irzaev, squad commander,1^st motorized rifle battalion;
• private Piotr Ilyushin, deputy commander of a combat vehicle, gunner-operator of the 1^st motorized rifle battalion;
• private Vadim Mitin, a tank commander in a tank battalion.

In February-March 2022, they took part in capturing Okhtyrka district in Sumy region, including the town of Trostianets.

During the occupation of the settlement, all five servicemen were part of russian ‘punitive units’ that abducted and tortured local residents.

The ruscists took the victims to a torture chamber set up in the basement of a local grain silo.

There, the captives were tortured - they were beaten tied up and then thrown barely conscious on the cold floor and kept for long periods without food and water.

Volchek was particularly cruel. While beating his victims, he imitated their executions.

For this, the russian command awarded him a ‘Suvorov medal’, which he received after the invaders retreated from Sumy region.

The investigation also documented that Irzaev had beaten a tied up man, abducted from the streets, with a stick and promised to ‘break all his bones’.

In this way, the invaders were trying to force the victims to cooperate with the aggressor.

SSU investigators have notified all five enemy servicemen of suspicion in absentia under Articles 28.2, 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 russian war criminals to justice.

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