The Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office have documented new war crimes committed by russian lieutenant general Sergei Kisel, commander of the 1^st tank army of russia’s western military district.

As the investigation established, between February 24 and March 23, 2022, he commanded the aggressor’s 4^th tank division (better known as the Yuri Andropov Kantemirovskaya Division), which participated in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, under Kisel’s command, units of the formation attacked populated areas in Chernihiv and Sumy regions.

It has been established that, on the general’s orders, his subordinates fired almost point-blank at civilian infrastructure using heavy armoured vehicles and tube artillery.

As a result of these strikes, 137 civilians, including 8 children, were killed in Sumy region alone. Hundreds of residential buildings and administrative structures were destroyed.

Based on the evidence collected, SSU investigators have notified Kisel in absentia of suspicion under Article 437.2 of the CCU (waging an aggressive war).

The decision to place him on an international wanted list is pending.

In September 2025, the SSU declared this russian general suspect in absentia under Articles 28.2 and 438.2 of the CCU (war crimes, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy). It was established that on 25 February 2022, Kisel participated in organising strikes on the civilian infrastructure of Okhtyrka using the Grad and Uragan multiple rocket launchers.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Sumy Office under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.