The Security Service of Ukraine has formally notified a Russian serviceman of suspicion over the abduction of a civilian woman in Kupiansk in September 2025. The suspect allegedly held the woman hostage and threatened her and her friend with death.

What is known about the suspect

The suspect is Oleksandr Erzin (call sign “Ryzh”), a 54-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation. He served as a rifleman in the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division, part of Russia’s 6th Army (military unit 50183).

In September 2025, Erzin took part in an attempted recapture of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. During the operation, he was captured by Ukrainian forces.

Criminal activity

According to investigators, the Russian soldier was tasked with infiltrating Kupiansk and carrying out further orders. Once inside the city, he avoided direct combat with Ukrainian defenders and hid inside the local police station building.

Erzin set up a firing position on the fourth floor. Later that day, he spotted two local women, aged 55 and 60, collecting firewood nearby.

Armed with an assault rifle, the occupier intimidated the women and detained them. Threatening them with a firearm, he forced one woman to come upstairs with him, while the other remained outside.

Inside the building, Erzin interrogated the hostage about her identity and why she was near the police station. He then ordered her to shout from a window, demanding that her friend bring him food, threatening to kill her if she refused.

The second woman was forced to go home for supplies, while the hostage remained inside under the threat of being shot.

After receiving the food, the soldier interrogated both women. He later released them but ordered them to return in a week with another package of food, threatening to come to their homes and shoot them if they disobeyed.

On the appointed day, the women, fearing reprisals, returned to the police station with food. By that time, however, the Russian soldier was no longer there — he had already been captured.

Suspicion

Oleksandr Erzin has been formally notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers cruel treatment of civilians.

He is currently being held in a pre-trial detention facility as a prisoner of war and faces up to 12 years in prison.