The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) says it has identified a Russian commander who ordered troops to fire at civilians in the early days of the invasion, APA reports citing CNN.
The SBU alleges that Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeniy Zelenov — a deputy commander in the Western Military District — ordered troops to shoot at civilian cars at the entrance to Kharkiv on Feb. 24, the first full day of the invasion.
The SBU claims in a statement that on that day, Zelenov was commanding a Russian battalion-tactical group and “conducted active hostilities with the units of the Defense Forces in the eastern direction.”
“According to the investigation, his occupation group approached the Kharkiv ring road from the side of the village of Lyptsi and blocked the entrance to the regional center,” the SBU continues.
“At the same time, local residents who were traveling from the border settlements of the region demanded the traffic be unblocked and resisted the occupiers.”
The SBU claims that Zelenov ordered his subordinates to open fire on the cars with civilians.
“As a result of the crime, one person was killed, at least two were seriously injured,” the security service alleges.
CNN is reaching out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment on the accusations. Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians in what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
