SBU identifies Russian general and his subordinates who organized the largest torture chamber in Kherson

SBU materials help to serve notice of suspicion to Russian general and his subordinates who tortured ATO veteran during Kherson occupation

According to the SBU press service, the Security Service and the National Police have collected evidence against 11 more Russian war criminals involved in mass repression and murder of civilians after the capture of Kherson. This time, the crimes of Russian Police Major General Yuriy Zavyalov, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Krasnoyarsk Krai, and his subordinates were documented.

Photo: Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office

According to the case file, at the request of Gauleiter Saldo, in July 2022, the Kremlin "sent" them to the then-occupied Kherson to conduct so-called "cleansing" among local residents. To organize the repressive measures, Zavyalov was appointed head of the occupation "Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Kherson region." Two more Russian police colonels, Gennady Beryozin and Yuri Zakavryashin, were appointed "deputy heads" of the pseudo-agency. These three defendants organized racist groups that kidnapped residents of the regional center and escorted them to the occupation torture chamber, which was led by Andriy Spivak, a 38-year-old senior lieutenant of the Russian police. It is noted that on the orders of Zavyalov, his subordinate used brutal torture against prisoners, including beatings and starvation. According to the materials of the proceedings, it was on Spivak's order that a 54-year-old ATO veteran was electrocuted to death.

During the liberation of Kherson, Zavyalov and his subordinates fled to Russia, where they received Kremlin awards. To hide war crimes, the defendants changed their personal data in their personal files in Russia. However, this conspiracy did not help them. SBU officers together with the National Police identified each offender and their personal data.

Currently, Zavyalov, Beresin, Zakavryashyn, Spivak and six other defendants have been served suspicion notices in absentia under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war committed by prior conspiracy).

The actions of another offender are qualified under Part 2 Article 28, Part 5 Article 27, Part 2 Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding and abetting in the cruel treatment of civilians combined with intentional murder). Comprehensive measures are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice. Each of the Russian war criminals will be found and punished. The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Kherson region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Володимир Шкаєв