MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. The Russian Investigative Committee has filed charges in absentia against the former commander of the Ukrainian navy and the former commanders of several Ukrainian battlegroups, and has also placed more than 700 foreign nationals on the wanted list for fighting on the side of Ukraine, the Investigative Committee’s press service reported.

"Taking into account the totality of the collected evidence, charges are being filed against the former commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Igor Voronchenko, who held said position from July 2016 to June 2020. Charges are also being brought against the commander of Ukraine’s Battlegroup East, Alexander Nesterenko, who held this position from July to December 2019. Another defendant is the commander of Ukraine’s Battlegroup West, Igor Dovgan, who held said post from March 2015 to March 2017," the Investigative Committee said. According to the criminal probe, they were responsible for training and combat preparation of Ukrainian armed formations before deploying them to the zones of the so-called "anti-terrorist operation," and then overseeing the operations of the combined forces in southeastern Ukraine.

The Russian Investigative Committee also placed more than 700 foreign nationals on the wanted list for fighting for Ukraine as members of various Ukrainian battlegroups.

"On the basis of the evidence obtained, decisions were made to charge the accused in absentia under Part 3, Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Mercenary Activities") in respect of citizens of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland and Romania. In total, more than 700 foreign nationals are currently listed as wanted. Part of them were arrested in absentia," the press service said.