Four men are suspected of forming a group to search for pro-Ukrainian citizens in occupied Kupyansk, the press service of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported.

“According to the investigation, in July 2022, a 40-year-old man agreed to the proposal of the Russian military and became the ‘commander’ of the so-called Patrol Service Platoon within the Department of Internal Affairs in the then-occupied Kupyansk. The purpose of this body was to suppress any resistance to the military occupation by civilians, to impose criminal policies and rules of the Russian Federation, and to commit acts of reprisals against citizens who did not want to support the Russian world,” the statement said.

Law enforcement officials say that he involved three friends in the work. In particular, a 30-year-old man became a police officer of the Patrol Service Platoon. Two other men, aged 34 and 32, became police drivers.

According to the investigation, the group of suspects was looking for anti-terrorist operation (ATO) participants, law enforcement officers and people with an active pro-Ukrainian position. In addition, they searched for weapons from locals and handed them over to the occupiers, patrolled the city and stood at checkpoints.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office notified them in absentia that four men were suspected of collaboration with an organised group.

GWARA’S CHOICE

Man detained in Kharkiv region for suspicion of helping Russian army with field mining. Security Service of Ukraine officers have detained a 29-year-old resident of Bohodukhiv district. 

SSU identified a Russian soldier who was shooting at Kharkiv Oblast houses at point-blank range. Security Services of Ukraine suspected a 22-year-old resident of Samara Oblast, Stanislav Shmatov, for severe violations of the laws and customs of war during the taking over Pisky-Radskivski in the Izium district.