The Security Service of Ukraine has collected evidence against five senior officials of russia’s armed groupings who organised an air strike on civilian infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih on 13 June 2023.

Thirteen local residents were killed as a result of the attack. A further 30 civilians were injured, some severely.

The russian strike hit an apartment block, educational institutions, a food distribution centre, and other private businesses.

The ruscists carried out the air strike using Kh-101 strategic cruise missiles, launched from Tu-95MS bomber aircraft.

The following individuals were involved in planning and preparing the attack:

• army general Sergei Surovikin, who was commander-in-chief of the russian aerospace forces at the time and authorised the missile strike on civilian targets in Kryvyi Rih;
• lieutenant general Sergei Dronov, deputy commander-in-chief of the russian aerospace forces, identified the targets for the missile strikes;
• lieutenant general Sergei Kobylash, commander of the long-range aviation of the russian aerospace forces, issued the combat order to strike civilian targets;
• colonel Mykola Varpakhovych, commander of russia’s 22^nd heavy bomber aviation division, issued combat orders to strike civilian targets;
• colonel Oleg Skitsky, commander of russia’s 121^st heavy bomber aviation regiment, organised a missile strike on civilian targets.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators have notified all five of them in absentia of their status as suspects under Articles 28.2 and 438.2 of the CCU (violation of the laws and customs of war resulting in loss of life, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy).

Efforts to bring russian war criminals to justice are underway.

The investigation was conducted by the SSU Office in Dnipropetrovsk region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.