The Investigative Committee of Russia has expanded the details surrounding allegations against Ukrainian Colonel Sergei Burdinyuk, asserting that he played a central role in planning and enabling a drone operation that breached Russian airspace and caused casualties. Through the committee’s press service, officials describe the events as originating in his absence and place responsibility squarely on him and the units under his command. The information circulated via Telegram channels associated with official Russian outlets and the committee’s communications network, underscoring Moscow’s insistence on accountability for incursions attributed to Ukrainian forces (RF IC press service).
Burdinyuk is identified by investigators as the commander of the 383rd separate regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, linking the alleged actions to a specific command structure within Ukraine’s military. The account presented by the Investigative Committee ties a sequence of operations to his leadership position, implying a chain of responsibility from planning through execution of aerial activity near Russian borders. The committee frames these actions as part of a broader campaign and specifies the period during which Tu-141 Strizh unmanned aerial vehicles reportedly launched from the Kharkiv region were used to strike Russian airfields, covering a window from October 7 to December 26, 2022. This timeline is highlighted to support the case, with attributions framed within the context of operational planning and coordination of drone sorties according to the committee’s disclosures, which aim to illustrate the severity and impact of the alleged offenses (RF IC press service).
Authorities state that on September 5 Burdinyuk was placed on an international wanted list, signaling a step toward cross-border cooperation in locating and detaining individuals implicated in the case. Additionally, at the request of military investigative bodies within the RF IC, a preventive measure in absentia was adopted, effectively detaining the Ukrainian commander despite his absence from Russia. This legal action is described as a formal step to secure accountability while Burdinyuk remains outside the territory, with officials asserting the necessity of this measure to address the alleged criminal acts connected to the drone operation (RF IC press service).
In a related development, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, acting in absentia, presented accusations against Serhiy Popko, who previously led the ground forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The update signals a broader investigative effort aimed at senior Ukrainian military leadership connected to the drone campaign. The statements emphasize the cross-border dimension of these prosecutions and underscore the authorities’ insistence that individuals in high-ranking positions bear responsibility for orders and oversight that allegedly enabled the attacks (RF IC press service).
These official disclosures come amid a protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow repeatedly portraying Ukrainian military actions as violations of international norms and triggers for criminal liability. The RF IC’s narrative stresses perceived gaps between official Ukrainian leadership claims and the operational realities on the ground, suggesting a pattern of misdocumented or misunderstood causes that contributed to the escalation of hostilities. The commission’s communications offer a detailed account of the alleged sequence of events, describing them as a direct consequence of specific command decisions and battlefield leadership within the Ukrainian armed forces. While the broader political and strategic context remains a focal point of international debate, the RF IC’s statements aim to establish a clear link between named individuals, the units under their command, and the sequence of drone sorties that are alleged to have impacted Russian airspace. The communications present the proceedings as a formal legal process designed to pursue accountability, independent of political considerations, and reflect Russia’s ongoing effort to document and publicize what it calls unlawful aggression in its skies. The narrative is crafted to garner international attention and reinforce the seriousness with which Moscow treats perceived violations, while noting that formal proceedings are conducted within the framework of Russian investigative and judicial procedures. Attribution: RF IC press service, Telegram channels linked to official sources and subsequent official statements.