On March 24, 2026, the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine served a second notice of suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to a Russian paratrooper who already has a war crimes conviction.
What is known about the suspect
Atantaev Chingiz Ergeshovich (born July 25, 1984) is a native of the village of Ust-Omchug in Russia’s Magadan region. He is a senior sergeant and squad commander of a combat vehicle in the command-and-control unit of the communications platoon of a parachute battalion of the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment, part of the 76th Airborne Assault Division of the Russian Airborne Forces (military unit 74268, permanently based in Pskov).
On November 24, 2025, the Makariv District Court of Kyiv Region sentenced him to 11 years in prison under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for a separate war crime committed in Bucha.
The new notice of suspicion concerns a different episode.
Circumstances of the crime
On March 27, 2022, at around 12:00, Atantaev, together with another unidentified serviceman, was on a street in Bucha. A local resident, dressed in civilian clothing and unarmed, was passing by and posed no threat or provocation.
Atantaev stopped him by shouting: “Stop! Kneel down!” Realizing the immediate danger to his life, the man began to comply and started to kneel. Without waiting for him to fully comply, Atantaev approached and struck him with the butt of his assault rifle in the heel of his right foot.
He then ordered the victim to undress and checked his belongings and documents, after which he let him go.
The blow caused a closed fracture of the right calcaneus without displacement — an injury classified as being of moderate severity. In addition to the physical harm, the victim suffered mental distress.
Suspicion
Atantaev has been served with a notice of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — cruel treatment of civilians.
Criminal proceedings No. 42022112320000037, initiated on February 27, 2022.