A court in Kharkov sentenced a Russian army officer to life imprisonment

A court in Kharkov sentenced 49-year-old officer of Russia’s Sixth Combined Arms Army Yevgeny Zelenov in absentia to life imprisonment in the case of shooting up civilian cars on the Kharkov ring road in the early days of the full-scale invasion. Zelenov was found guilty of violating the laws and customs of war and premeditated murder.

According to investigators, the convicted military man commanded battalion tactical group. It is alleged that on the morning of February 24, 2022, he ordered his subordinates to open targeted fire on civilian cars that were leaving Kharkov along the ring road near the village of Liptsy.

Some Russian soldiers refused to comply with Zelenov’s order, asking civilians to get out of their cars and walk. In one of the cars were a 51-year-old woman and her 29-year-old daughter, whom the military volunteered to escort to a safe place. Colleagues saw them and opened fire, killing a 51-year-old woman and a Russian soldier.

Investigators installed Zelenov’s identity back in December 2022. He is from Murom and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Russian army. At the same time, the officer was informed in absentia that he was suspected of a crime.