SBI detains two generals and colonel of Armed Forces of Ukraine: Their inaction led to seizure of part of Kharkiv region in 2024. PHOTOS
The former commanders - two generals and a colonel - were detained. According to the SBI, as a result of their negligence, the Russian occupiers were able to seize part of the territory of Kharkiv region in May 2024.
This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation, Censor.NET informs.
"The former commanders of the operational and tactical group 'Kharkiv', the 125th separate territorial defence brigade and the 415th separate rifle battalion of the 23rd separate mechanised brigade, through their negligent attitude to military service, allowed the Russian Federation troops to seize part of the territory of the Lypetsk rural territorial community of Kharkiv district. Also, the actions of the commanders led to the loss of personnel and weapons, disrupted measures to defend the state border in their area of responsibility," the statement said.
It is noted that the brigadier general determined the defence positions for the 125th Separate Brigade TDF that did not correspond to its combat capabilities, and he had other units that could reinforce these positions.
"The commander also made a number of other mistakes, including not fully clarifying the directions of the enemy's main attacks, insufficiently controlling the organisation of preparation and conduct of defensive actions. He failed to manoeuvre the forces and means of the grouping in a timely manner, and failed to organise support for the brigade's units with artillery and air power.
The former commander of the 125th separate territorial defence brigade, a lieutenant general, also underestimated the enemy's ability to resume the offensive in the brigade's defence area and inadequately responded to the enemy's increasing combat capabilities and threats. In particular, he failed to equip the combat guard positions, did not take measures to man the brigade, assigned overstated combat missions to the battalions and, without conducting operational and tactical calculations, did not organise proper equipment of strongholds, engineering barriers, etc.", the SBI explained.
The former brigadier, the Bureau continued, had information about the enemy's preparations for offensive actions, but did not communicate it to his subordinates, did not ensure maximum mobilisation and presence of all personnel of the brigade, including officers at their positions.
"Already during the battle, he failed to organise proper artillery fire support for the brigade's units; he did not ensure the effective use of the brigade's reserves, the brigade's interaction with other units and did not know the actual situation on the battlefield.
The former commander of the 415th Battalion of the 23rd Brigade, in turn, failed to organise a defensive battle in the settlements of Strilecha, Krasne Lyptsi and Slobozhanske, which were within the battalion's defensive line, and failed to determine which objects to include in the strongholds and how to prepare them for defence, how to counter the enemy's underground mine warfare, and where to equip shelters and warehouses.
During the repulsion of the enemy offensive, he failed to report to the senior commander on the results of the defensive battle, did not take measures to stop the unauthorised departure of 12 battalion soldiers and gave a single combat order in the absence of an order from the senior commander. The former commander also ignored and failed to comply with the order of the brigade commander to restore the lost positions," the SBI wrote.
This allowed the ruscists to seize the positions of the first and second echelon battalion units, which led to the loss of personnel, enemy penetration of the defence line up to 10 km in depth and loss of control over part of the territory along the state border of Ukraine.
The SBI stated that after the detainees were brought to Kyiv, they would be notified of suspicion of negligence of duty by a military official committed under martial law, which caused grave consequences (part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The former commander of the 415th SRB will be additionally served with a notice of suspicion of unauthorised abandonment of the battlefield (Article 429 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The sanction of the articles provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The day before, Censor.NET editor-in-chief Yurii Butusov said that the State Bureau of Investigation was going to detain or notify several military officers of suspicion.
These are Colonel Dmytro Riumshyn, former commander of the 155th mechanised brigade "Anna of Kyiv", General Yurii Halushkin, former commander of the operational and tactical command "Kharkiv", and Lieutenant General, former commander of the 125th brigade Artur Horbenko.
