The Investigative Committee filed charges in absentia against Budanov for drone attacks

The Russian Investigative Committee brought charges in absentia against the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, and several other Ukrainian military leaders for drone attacks on Russian territory. About it reported in the department’s Telegram channel.

Budanov is accused in absentia under Part 2 of Art. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (terrorist act). Under the same article, charges were brought against the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Nikolai Oleshchuk, the commander of the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Alexei Neizhpapa and the commander of the 383rd separate regiment of remotely controlled aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force Sergei Burdenyuk.

According to the investigation, the top military leadership of Ukraine was involved in more than 100 drone strikes in Moscow, the Moscow region, Crimea, Sevastopol, Rostov, Belgorod, Bryansk regions and a number of other regions of the Russian Federation in the period from April 2022 to September 2023. In addition, it was established that the defendants involved military personnel subordinate to them in committing crimes.

It is clarified that in the near future the accused will be put on the wanted list, and the investigation also plans to choose a preventive measure for them in the form of detention in absentia.

Ukraine has been attempting to attack Russian regions using drones since the beginning of the special operation. Biggest attack happened August 30: The Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to strike the territory of five regions of Central Russia, the Pskov region and Sevastopol. As a result of the attack on Pskov airport, no one was injured, but Il-76 aircraft were damaged. On August 30, all flights were canceled at the airport.