The Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Mykolaiv region has formally notified two Russian servicemen — Ruslan Magomedov and Ramis Seyidov — of suspicion over the ill-treatment of civilians during the temporary occupation of the village of Yevhenivka in the Bashtanka district of the Mykolaiv region in 2022.

What is known about the suspects

Ruslan Gazikhibovich Magomedov, born in 1996, is a native of Dagestan and served as a senior driver-mechanic in the 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Cossack Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.

Ramis Mustafayevich Seyidov, born in 1992, also a native of Dagestan, served as a commander of an artillery reconnaissance unit and as a tank commander in the same brigade.

Both suspects are residents of the village of Kala in Dagestan.

Alleged crimes

From March 19 to November 11, 2022, Russian forces exercised full control over the village of Yevhenivka, located in the Snihurivka community of the Mykolaiv region.

In the second half of April 2022, Magomedov and Seyidov arrived at the home of a local resident under the pretext of interrogation. During the questioning, they allegedly used violence, beating the man with a rifle butt and extinguishing cigarette butts on his hand.

The victim was later forced to perform hard labor, manually loading and unloading grain without any tools. He was compelled to work until October 2022, often in extreme heat, without rest or access to food and water.

In May 2022, investigators say Seyidov stole a car trailer belonging to another local resident.

In late August 2022, Magomedov, in the presence of Seyidov, allegedly assaulted another civilian after the man witnessed the forced labor. The victim sustained a broken rib and multiple bruises as a result of the beating.

Another episode concerns the intimidation of a local farmer whose grain had been looted by Russian troops since April. According to investigators, when the farmer came to a warehouse, Magomedov fired three shots over his head and threatened to kill him.

Legal qualification

Based on these facts, Magomedov and Seyidov are suspected of cruel treatment of civilians committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy, under Article 28(2) and Article 438(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

All victims were protected persons under international humanitarian law. None of them were members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or took part in active hostilities.