The Investigative Department of the SBU Office in Kherson region identified and served notices of suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on June 3, 2026, to 10 russian drone operators accused of terrorizing Kherson and nearby settlements in 2025.
Who are the suspects
- Denisenko Nikolai Valentinovich (born February 16, 1991) is a native of the military settlement of Kapustin Yar in russia's Astrakhan region. His call sign is "Gamy".
- Grigoryan Tsolak Rubenovich (born March 19, 1988) is a native of the village of Narek in Armenia's Arshat district. His call sign is "Boroda".
- Gubar Nikita Alexandrovich (born December 11, 1997) is a native of the village of Petrunino in russia's Volgograd region. His call sign is "Drovosek".
- Klimov Vladimir Alexandrovich (born February 12, 1999) is a native of Gukovo in russia's Rostov region. His call sign is "Klim".
- Kornenkov Vyacheslav Stanislavovich (born September 5, 1998) is a native of the village of Shishkino in Yevpatoria district of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine. His call sign is "Skif".
- Nizhnikov Viktor Sergeyevich (born November 9, 1989) is a native of the village of Linevo in russia's Volgograd region. His call sign is "Flask".
- Nugayev Ruslan Maratovich (born December 30, 1993) is a native of the settlement of Novonikolayevsky in russia's Volgograd region. His call sign is "Doc".
- Orlov Vladimir Dmitrievich (born February 13, 1987) is a native of the village of Olchan in russia's Sakha Republic. His call sign is "Yakut".
- Prusachenko Ivan Vitalievich (born February 12, 1997) is a native of the village of Zavyazka in russia's Volgograd region. His call sign is "Prus".
- Pukhlyakov Oleg Mikhailovich (born March 18, 1998) is a native of the village of Krasnokamenka in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine. His call sign is "Bullet".
All of them served in the 404th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Territorial Troops (military unit No. 41843) of the russian armed forces, which in 2025 held positions along the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River from the Kinburn Spit to Nova Kakhovka.
Circumstances of the crimes
The servicemen are suspected of systematically and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure from positions in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region. Investigators say they used FPV kamikaze drones and quadcopters to drop explosive devices, including improvised and shaped-charge aerial munitions.
The alleged targets included civilian vehicles carrying drivers and passengers, pedestrians on the streets of Kherson, residential buildings and garages, medical facilities and vehicles, including Kherson's Karabelesh City Clinical Hospital, as well as firefighters responding to a blaze in a residential building.
Most of the attacks were carried out in Kherson.
The investigation has documented at least 15 victims who suffered injuries of varying severity, including serious shrapnel wounds, open fractures, burns, acoustic barotrauma and concussions.
Suspicion
All 10 servicemen have been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — violation of the laws and customs of war.
According to investigators, the servicemen violated a number of fundamental norms of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I. Intentional attacks against civilians and civilian objects also constitute a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.