Suspects identified in murder of Ukrainian children’s writer– Prosecutor General’s update
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Ukrainian authorities have identified two individuals connected to the shooting of Ukrainian children’s writer Volodymyr Vakulenko and the murder of three other people during the Russian military occupation of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office has said in a statement.
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The suspects, serving in the 4th company of the 4th battalion of the 204th rifle regiment of the mobilization reserve of the so-called “LPR” (Luhansk People’s Republic), are alleged to have violated the laws and customs of war. Military officials have reported the charges, citing violations under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The accused, identified as the company commander with the call sign “Lev” and his subordinate, a machine gunner nicknamed “Udod,” both born in Luhansk, were allegedly involved in the events that transpired in the occupied village of Kapytolivka in Izyum District of Kharkiv Oblast last year.
Armed occupiers conducted a search at Vakulenko’s house on March 22, 2022, discovering his opposition to Russian actions. The occupiers detained the writer and his 14-year-old son, attempting to coerce Vakulenko into collaborating with the occupation authorities.
Following his refusal, the occupiers subjected Vakulenko to undressing to reveal Ukrainian-themed tattoos. However, the writer steadfastly resisted their demands. Subsequently, the Russian invaders transported Vakulenko and his son back home.
On March 24, the military returned and this time detained only Vakulenko. Upon the commander’s order, the machine gunner “Udod” fatally shot the writer with a Makarov pistol.
The Prosecutor General’s Office states that the suspects are also implicated in the murder of three other civilians, including a former Anti-Terrorist Operation participant and two other men. The victims were held in unsanitary conditions in a basement without light, systematically beaten with sticks, and later killed.
A civilian man was also detained, and the occupiers forcibly inserted a hryvnia banknote into his mouth, threatening to shoot him if he removed it. After a period of captivity, the civilian was eventually released.
The authorities are currently considering declaring the suspects wanted. Investigations reveal that “Lev” and “Udod” acted as part of a group with other Russian military personnel, and efforts to identify them are ongoing.
Volodymyr Vakulenko went missing in the village of Kapytolivka near Izyum in March 2022. His parents searched for him for over six months. Subsequent investigations indicated that he had been abducted by Russian invasion forces.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
