Tuesday, 5 September ‘23

Russian Soldier Accused of Murdering Supermarket Guard

Ukrainian investigators informed a Russian prisoner of war of the suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 438 and Part 2 of Art. 28 of the criminal code of Ukraine concerning the violations of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder, with a prior conspiracy by a group of persons.

The National Police’s press service did not name the Russian soldier, but a video with his testimony at the crime scene identified him as Nikolai Kartashov, a native of Russia’s Rostov region and a senior artillery gunner. 

The 21-year-old is accused of involvement in the shooting of a supermarket guard in Bucha, in Kyiv region, on February 27, 2022. The wounded man was able to reach the shop premises, but died once inside. In early February 2023, Ukraine’s Armed Forces captured the soldier, serving in Russia’s 76th Airborne Assault Division, in the Kharkiv region.

According to the investigation, a senior officer ordered his subordinates to identify all persons wearing black clothing as enemies, thus violating the principle of distinction, because a large number of civilians could have clothes of this colour. The subordinates, including Kartashov, followed the order and opened fire on the supermarket security guard, who was unarmed and dressed in black clothes. If convicted, Kartashov faces up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.

Russian Commander Suspected of Holding Child Hostage 

Chernihiv region’s National Police reported a suspicion in absentia to Russian officer Nikolay Khachaturyan over holding a 15-year-old child hostage, in violation of the laws and customs of war by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the criminal code). Khachaturyan commands a branch of the Russian forces’ motorised rifle brigade.

According to the investigation, on March 19, 2022, Khachaturyan, in a previous conspiracy with other Russian military personnel, captued the teenager inTerekhivka, a village in Chernihiv region. The teenager’s eyes were covered with a cap and taped and he was then taken to a nearby village, where he was kept in a garage for several days. The detention aimed at forcing his mother, serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces, to provide information about the deployment of the Ukrainian military. 

The Russian soldiers called the woman and sent her various messages threatening to commit physical violence against the child. The teen was also forced to record voice messages for his mother. After failing to receive any information, the Russian military released the child.

Damage to Ministry of Justice Buildings Estimated at 47 Million Dollars

The State Judicial Administration of Ukraine has calculated that an estimated 1.88 billion hryvnia (47 million dollars) had been caused to 104 courts as well as several premises of the State Judicial Administration, the Court Security Service, the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. 

Premises suffered damage of varying degrees, from theft of property to complete destruction, with the largest loss suffered in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Mykolaiv regions. It is impossible to fully assess the losses, as some courts are located in temporarily occupied territory.