Ukraine has charged a Russian general who led the seizure of the Kherson region

Ukrainian law enforcement officials have charged Russian General Alexander Dvornikov, whom investigators believe to be one of the organizers of the invasion of southern Ukraine. Under his command, Russian troops seized most of the Kherson region.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.

According to investigators, 65-year-old Dvornikov commanded the Russian Southern Military District at the start of the full-scale invasion. He led one of the largest formations of the Russian army, which included at least three combined-arms armies, about 38 brigades and regiments, and 30 battalions.

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops under his command launched an offensive from the territory of occupied Crimea. According to the investigation, the plan called for the capture of the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions, as well as an advance along the coast of the Sea of Azov toward Berdiansk.

Prior to the offensive, Russian aircraft carried out missile and bombing strikes against Ukrainian military facilities, airfields, command posts, and air defense systems. Among the targets was the airfield in Chornobaivka in the Kherson region. These attacks were intended to weaken Ukrainian defenses and facilitate the advance of ground forces.

Russian units entered the Kherson region through the “Kalanchak” checkpoint. During the first 24 hours of the invasion, they captured Henichesk, Nova Kakhovka, and Oleshky.

Russian forces also crossed through the area of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and took control of the North Crimean Canal facilities. This was intended to ensure the supply of water to occupied Crimea.

Another key route was the Antonivsky Bridge across the Dnipro River. Russian troops crossed it to the right bank of the river and established a foothold for a further advance on Kherson.

Over the next two weeks, Russian units captured new settlements in the region, set up command posts, and established checkpoints.

According to the investigation, the occupation was accompanied by attacks on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, looting, unlawful detentions, torture, and killings of local residents. As a result of the offensive, Russia occupied up to 97% of the territory of the Kherson region. Residents of the captured settlements also faced blockades of humanitarian aid.

The former commander of the Russian Southern Military District was charged in absentia with conducting aggressive military operations as part of a premeditated conspiracy by a group of individuals. He is charged under Part 2 of Article 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The Office of the Prosecutor General noted that, in total, law enforcement officials have identified eight members of the Russian Federation’s senior military leadership involved in planning and carrying out the offensive in the Kherson region. Three of them have already been sentenced to the maximum possible punishment.

Ірина Глухова