On March 12, 2026, the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions reported a notice of suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine against the commander of a rocket artillery brigade of the armed forces of russia.
Circumstances of the crime
On February 15, 2023, at approximately 10:01, servicemen of the 439th brigade of the armed forces of russia struck residential areas of Pokrovsk using high-explosive fragmentation rockets 9M55F or 9M528.
The Sonyachny and Shakhtarsky neighborhoods were hit. The rockets struck the roof of a five-story residential building and an area near Lyceum No. 2. Six apartment buildings and an educational facility were damaged. As a result of the strike, the two upper floors of the most heavily damaged five-story building were completely destroyed. Due to the destruction of load-bearing structures, the 58-apartment building was declared unfit for further habitation.
Three civilians were killed, including an elderly couple, and 11 civilians were injured to varying degrees, suffering traumatic brain injuries, blast injuries, and shrapnel wounds. The victims included people of different ages, including a woman born in 2001 and elderly residents.
What is known about the suspect
Colonel Anatoly Anatolyevich Lapandin (born April 5, 1977) is a native of the city of Znamensk, Astrakhan region. At the time of the crime, he served as commander of the 439th rocket artillery brigade (military unit 48315), stationed in Znamensk.
This brigade is the only formation of the Southern Military District of the armed forces of russia equipped with 300 mm multiple launch rocket systems “Smerch” / “Tornado-S”. The brigade includes three battalions with 18 launchers.
By virtue of his position, Lapandin was subordinate to the command of the Southern Military District and was personally responsible for planning strikes, distributing ammunition, and coordinating unit actions during shelling.
Suspicion
Lapandin is suspected of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — violation of the laws and customs of war combined with intentional killing.
His actions violated the provisions of the 1907 Hague Convention, the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons, and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977, which prohibit intentional attacks against civilians and civilian objects.
