On June 26, 2026, the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions notified a russian general of suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for directing “Iskander” missiles at Kramatorsk in 2023.
Who is the suspect
Kuzovlev Sergey Yurievich (born January 7, 1967) is a native of Michurinsk, Tambov region, russia.
A serviceman of the russian Armed Forces with the rank of Colonel General. At the time of the crime, he served as commander of the Southern Military District of the armed forces of the russian federation.
Circumstances of the crime
On the evening of June 27, 2023, unidentified servicemen of the russian Armed Forces from the 1st and 107th Missile Brigades (which were subordinate to Kuzovlev and equipped with the 9K720 “Iskander-K” operational-tactical missile system) launched 9M727 cruise missiles. The launch took place from positions in the Rostov region of the russian federation.
At about 19:30, one of the missiles struck the popular “RiaPizza” café (45 V. Stusa St.), causing severe damage that made the building beyond repair. Another missile struck the road surface at the intersection of Sofiivska Street and Belyaeva Street.
The strike killed 13 people, including an eight-month-old child, foreign nationals, journalists, and volunteers. Another 56 people were injured.
In addition, the missile strike caused extensive destruction in the surrounding area. A total of 120 residential buildings, four educational facilities, 10 shops and kiosks, two catering establishments, a post office, offices of private companies and banks, and 12 vehicles were damaged.
None of the damaged sites was a military objective. Although Ukrainian servicemen were present in the “RiaPizza” café, they were there to eat and rest (without weapons and outside their unit). This did not make the site a military objective or provide the russian Armed Forces with any concrete or direct military advantage. Therefore, it was a deliberate attack on objects and persons protected under international humanitarian law, constituting a grave violation of the laws and customs of war.
Kuzovlev is implicated in the strike as the commander of the Southern Military District of the russian Armed Forces, having directly planned and approved the attack. He knew that the area around Stusa Street was densely built up with residential buildings and contained no military objectives, yet he approved the missile strike, fully aware that launching cruise missiles there would inevitably result in the deaths and injuries of numerous civilians.
Suspicion
Kuzovlev was notified in absentia of suspicion under Part Two of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder.
The criminal proceedings were entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations under No. 22023050000002695 on June 27, 2023.
