The Security Service of Ukraine has identified another Russian occupant involved in the mass torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in the temporarily occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

The perpetrator is Colonel Zelimkhan Agmerzoiev, who served as the commander of the 3rd company of the regiment of the federal police of the extracurricular protection of troops of the Rosgvardiya (National Guard) in the Chechen Republic.

After the occupation of the Melitopol district, he formed and led punitive units that carried out repression within the community.

Under Agmerzoiev's orders, his subordinates brutally tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in the occupied areas.

During these tortures, he personally called close relatives of the victims and demanded money from them in exchange for stopping physical abuse of the captives and kidnapped individuals.

It has been documented that Agmerzoiev demanded 500,000 UAH from the wife of a Ukrainian serviceman who was captured by the Russian invaders during the battles on the southern front.

In case of non-payment, the occupant threatened to mutilate and kill the Ukrainian captive.

Furthermore, the suspect demanded 20,000 US dollars from the close relatives of two abducted residents of the district. For this amount, he "guaranteed" to cease the abuse and release the victims back home.

Based on the gathered evidence, the investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have informed Zelimkhan Agmerzoiev of the suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war committed by a prior agreement by a group of individuals).

Comprehensive measures are currently underway to hold him accountable for crimes against Ukraine. The perpetrator will be found and punished, regardless of the time and place of his whereabouts.

The investigation was conducted by SBU officers in the Zaporizhzhia region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.