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Military operation in Ukraine

Two Azov battalion commanders responsible for abuse of POWs identified

They were indicted in absentia under article 317 of Russia’s Criminal Code

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. Two commanders of the Ukrainian nationalist battalion Azov are responsible for an encroachment on the life of at least eight Russian prisoners of war, the press-service of Russia’s Investigative Committee told the media on Thursday after an onsite meeting the IC chief, Alexander Bastrykin, held in Donetsk.

"The investigation has evidence the commanders of the nationalist battalion Azov, S.O. Velichko and K.V. Nemichev, are responsible for encroachment on the life of at least eight prisoners of war by means of inflicting multiple bodily injuries, including with the use of firearms, on the territory of the Kharkov Region," the IC said.

Velichko and Nemichev have been indicted in absentia under article 317 of Russia’s Criminal Code. Measures are being taken to track down and arrest them.

Also, Russian investigators are working on a criminal case opened against members of Ukrainian nationalist groups Khizanishvili and Antonyuk, who, acting together and in coordination on orders from their military commanders committed brutal crimes against Russian soldiers in the Kiev region.

Earlier, Bastrykin issued orders to identify the Ukrainian nationalists involved in the abuse of Russian soldiers, who would be recognized as plaintiffs and questioned in connection with the criminal case opened over crimes committed against them.

Earlier, several videos showing abuse of Russian prisoners of war were uploaded to the Internet.

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Ukraine Military operation in Ukraine

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