On May 5, 2026, the SBU Office in Kharkiv region served a notice of suspicion on a russian serviceman who took part in the torture of a civilian resident of Balakliia in 2022.

Who is the suspect

Bagdat Salzhyhitovich Yetekbayev (born February 13, 1994) is a native of the village of Togunas, Russko-Polyansky District, Omsk Region, russian federation. His call sign is “Berkut.”

At the time of the crime, he was the commander of the 1st patrol platoon of the 3rd patrol company of a special motorized battalion within a reinforced tactical group of the 126th regiment of the russian National Guard.

He took part in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as part of the occupation forces, including in Kharkiv region.

Circumstances of the crime

On June 7, 2022, at about 16:10, Yetekbayev and a group of other russian servicemen (call signs “Irbis,” “Gambit,” “Uragan,” and “Atashka”) arrived by car at an apartment building on Yakov Chernihivtsia Street.

They forced their way into the apartment of a local resident and began beating him for refusing to cooperate with the occupation authorities, which had been proposed to him during a previous detention on June 3, 2022.

Yetekbayev struck the man multiple times in the jaw and nose. His accomplice, “Gambit,” also repeatedly hit the victim in the face and struck him in the stomach with the butt of an assault rifle. The victim was forced to the floor, after which “Gambit” pointed a weapon at him and threatened to shoot him in the legs.

The servicemen then searched the apartment and seized the victim’s property, including passports, a mobile phone, two computer system units, a router, 10 bottles of strong alcohol, clothing, perfume, and glasses.

At around 17:30, the victim was forcibly taken from his apartment, placed in a vehicle, and driven to an unfinished building owned by him and his father.

There, “Gambit” resumed beating the victim, while Yetekbayev took a cleaver from the garage and waved it near the man’s feet, threatening to break his knees and striking the ground nearby.

At approximately 19:00, the victim was taken to the Balakliia District Police Department and placed in an interrogation room.

At around 21:00 the same day, he was released.

Notice of suspicion

Yetekbayev is suspected under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war), specifically cruel treatment of civilians.

His actions violated the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts.

The criminal proceedings were registered in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations under No. 22024220000000414 on March 25, 2024.