Seven people will stand trial in connection with the deaths of 59 Ukrainian civilians as a result of a missile strike on a café in the village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region on 5 October 2023.
This was reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
That day, a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile hit the Sputnyk café, where a memorial meal was being held after the reburial of a Ukrainian serviceman.
Fifty-nine people were killed, including an eight-year-old child. That is almost one sixth of the village’s population. A further five people were injured.
According to the investigation, the coordinates of the café and the exact time of the memorial meal were passed to the Russian side by two brothers, former residents of Hroza. During the occupation of the settlement of Shevchenkove in Kupyansk district, they voluntarily cooperated with Russian troops and later left for Russia.
Five representatives of Russia’s military command involved in preparing and carrying out the missile strike have also been identified.
The indictment against the seven individuals implicated in the war crime has been sent to court. The trial will proceed in the absence of the defendants, as they are wanted.
During the pre-trial investigation, investigators inspected the strike site and carried out 3D scanning, examined missile fragments, and established its flight path and launch location. In total, more than 270 forensic examinations were conducted, along with a range of other investigative and procedural actions. The evidence gathered made it possible to establish the circumstances of the strike’s preparation and execution, as well as those involved in organising it.
The head of the Intelligence Control Centre for enemy fire damage checked and assessed information about civilians being present in the café. Following his report, the head of the Joint Planning and Coordination Centre for fire damage — the deputy commander for fire damage — prepared and submitted a proposal to carry out a missile strike.
The final decision to attack was taken by the chief of staff — the first deputy commander of the joint grouping of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The head of the missile forces and artillery organised preparations for the strike, selected the means of attack and passed orders to those carrying it out. The commander of the 119th Missile Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation ensured the order was carried out. His subordinates launched a ballistic missile at the café.
Five representatives of the Russian army have been charged with violating the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder, committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy (Part 2, Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in the version in force at the time the offence was committed).
Two civilians are accused of aiding and abetting the commission of this war crime (Part 5, Article 27; Part 2, Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), as well as high treason committed under martial law by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy (Part 2, Article 28; Part 2, Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).