The Russian authorities are investigating the country’s first felony case of “violating the rules of combat duty,” Kommersant reported on Friday.
According to the newspaper, the case was opened in the spring of 2022 after a Ukrainian missile struck Russia’s Belgorod region. As a result of the attack, according to case documents, seven military servicemen were killed and 43 people were injured.
The only suspect in the case is an unnamed military officer who was on duty during the attack. According to Kommersant, the officer “allowed serious harm to be inflicted against the country’s defense capabilities despite having every opportunity to prevent the Ukrainian strike.”
A source close to the investigation reportedly told journalists that the officer is also being charged with exceeding his authority. If convicted of both charges, he could face a total of up to 20 years in prison. According to Kommersant, the suspect been in official custody since at least May 2022 and has denied all of the charges against him.
