On March 16, 2026, on the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre, the Council of the EU imposed sanctions on nine russian military personnel involved in crimes committed in Bucha and neighbouring towns of Hostomel, Irpin and Borodianka in February–March 2022. The sanctions include an asset freeze and a travel ban preventing them from entering or transiting through EU member states.

Who is subject to sanctions

• Aleksandr Yuryevich Chayko (27.07.1971) is a colonel general and former Commander of the Eastern Military District. He was the most senior russian military officer on the ground in Ukraine at the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion and was the lead commander when russian troops entered Bucha. The atrocities in Bucha constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. Chayko was awarded the title of “Hero of the russian Federation” in 2020.
• Andrey Viktorovich Kondrov (12.08.1976) is a colonel and commander of the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army. That brigade is accused of looting and murdering residents in Bucha. Those atrocities constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes.
• Artem Igorevich Gorodilov (08.08.1984) is a colonel and commander of the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade and former commander of the 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The regiment participated in the massacre of civilians in Bucha when the city was occupied by russian troops in the early days of the war. Gorodilov led the regiment at the time and was present in Bucha where hundreds of civilians died, in some cases as a result of brutal executions.
• Sergey Viktorovich Chubarykin (25.08.1980) is a major general and commander of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. Troops of the division committed most of the documented atrocities in Bucha, including executions, torture and looting. The division was also involved in combat operations north of Kyiv, in Kharkiv Oblast near Izyum and in Luhansk Oblast around Popasna.
• Viktor Viktorovich Filonov (09.04.1991) is a soldier in the 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. He was involved in russia’s war crimes against civilians in Bucha and Borodianka in February–March 2022. He has also adopted a child from the russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast who had been illegally deported to russia.
• Vladimir Viatcheslavovitch Seliverstov (01.08.1973) is a major general and former commander of the 106th Airborne Division. From February to April 2022 he led the actions of subordinate troops during the russian operation to capture Kyiv from the west. Personnel of the division were involved in war crimes against civilians in Kyiv Oblast, including in Bucha, Hostomel and Irpen. He has been awarded the title of “Hero of the russian Federation”.
• Vadim Ivanovych Pankov (02.01.1968) is the commander of the 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade (Spetsnaz). He participated in the annexation of Crimea in 2014, leading special forces operations. His brigade was involved in the occupation of Bucha. He is accused of ordering the execution of 30 local residents and forcing civilians to remove the bodies of dead russian soldiers. Those atrocities constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. Pankov has been awarded the title of “Hero of the russian Federation”.
• Denis Aleksandrovich Suvorov (06.11.1984) is a lieutenant colonel and commander of the 175th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. At the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion his battalion was deployed in Kyiv Oblast, including Bucha. Its reconnaissance activities supported broader “cleansing operations” that led to documented war crimes. Suvorov personally participated in torturing civilians during the occupation of Bucha in March 2022.
• Aleksey Nikolaevich Tolmachev (23.04.1980) is a colonel and commander of the 104th Airborne Assault Regiment of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. From February to April 2022 he commanded the regiment as part of the “Vostok” group of forces. Units under his command were involved in committing war crimes against civilians in Bucha and Irpen.

The Bucha massacre has become one of the most thoroughly documented war crimes since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After russian troops withdrew in late March 2022, the bodies of hundreds of civilians were found on the streets and in basements, bearing signs of executions, torture and abuse.

In total, EU restrictive measures in response to russia’s aggression against Ukraine now apply to around 2,600 individuals and entities.