Aleksandr Bobykin and Aleksandr Ivanov, two Russian servicemen, have pleaded guilty of shelling the Kharkiv region with multiple rocket launchers. They have agreed to provide testimony, according to Graty.
Photo: Graty
Combat vehicle driver Bobykin and gun layer Ivanov are accused of violating warfare laws and customs. The prosecutor’s theory is that their brigade arrived in the Belgorod region of Russia on 22 February and “was informed of the upcoming invasion into Ukraine.”
“They loaded the launcher with rockets, and then Ivanov aimed it at the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The next day they drove the launcher to the locality of Malinovka in the Belgorod region, from where their brigade commander fired the rockets towards the Kharkiv region,” says Graty.
After that, the two loaded the launcher once more, crossed the Ukrainian border and fired towards Kharkiv again. Their shells hit a residential area in Kozacha Lopan and an educational facility in Veterinarne, the prosecution says. The identities of the commanders who ordered the shelling are to be soon confirmed.
Bobykin and Ivanov were later taken prisoners; they had suspected that they had been sent to fight against Ukraine, while their commanders had told them they were sent for military exercise.
Both servicemen claim they were unaware where the target of their shells was, learning about hitting the Ukrainian territory after they had been captured. The next court session is scheduled for 26 May.
Earlier today, the prosecutior requested a lifetime sentence for Vadim Shishimarin who is accused of murdering a civilian in the Sumy region. Shishimarin claims he shot the civilian by command of an unknown soldier.
