The Investigative Committee charged in absentia the ex-commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Russian Investigative Committee has charged in absentia the former commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the current head of the Kyiv city military administration, Sergei Popko, in the case of the genocide of the Russian-speaking population in Donbass. About it reported in the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee.

“The commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Popko, who currently holds the position of head of the Kyiv city military administration, has been charged in absentia. As a result of his criminal actions, more than 180 people, including minors, were injured and killed,” the ministry said.

The Investigative Committee clarified that among other consequences of Popko’s actions are the destruction and damage to 370 civilian and critical infrastructure facilities in Donbass. The department added that all the crimes committed by Popko took place between March 2016 and August 2019.

The criminal case on the fact of the genocide of the Russian-speaking population in the Donbass was excited in 2016. In addition to Popko, former officials of the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard of Ukraine, including the former Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, the former Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, the former commander of the Ukrainian ground forces Anatoly Pushnyakov, and the former commander of the National Guard Yuriy Allerov.

In April 2022, the Investigative Committee of Russia in absentia presented accusation by 22 Ukrainian military of the genocide of the Russian-speaking population of Donbass, including the former defense ministers and the ex-chief of the general staff.