“The case of the defense of the Kharkiv region: the SBU announced the detention of the former commanders of the Kharkiv OTU and the 125th brigade, they face 10 years in prison January 20, 2:19 p.m. Share: Three former high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were detained in the case of the defense of the Kharkiv region in 2024 (Photo: SBU) The Security Service and the State Bureau of Investigation detained the generals, who, according to the data investigation, did not provide adequate protection of the Kharkiv region, which caused a breakthrough of the Russians”, — write on: ua.news
Three former high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces were detained in the case of the defense of Kharkiv Region in 2024 (Photo: SBU)
The Security Service and the State Bureau of Investigation detained generals who, according to the investigation, did not provide adequate protection of the Kharkiv region, which led to the breakthrough of Russian troops in this direction in May 2024. This was stated in the message of the SBU on Monday, January 20.
The extras are a brigadier general, former commander of an operational-tactical group (OTU) Kharkiv; lieutenant general, ex-commander of the 125th separate brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a colonel who previously headed the 415th battalion of this unit.
According to NV sources, it is about Brigadier General Yury Galushkin, Lieutenant General Artur Horbank and Colonel Ilya Lapin.
The Security Service of Ukraine declares that the former officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not prepare the defense of the border regions of Kharkiv region and lost control of the battle during the repeated offensive of the occupiers. According to the investigation, the military violated the requirements of combat statutes when preparing defensive lines, and during the battle did not use the entire arsenal of possible measures to repel the Russian offensive. This led to the capture of part of the Kharkiv region.
The Security Service of Ukraine notes that the examinations confirmed the facts of criminal activity of the persons involved. They were informed about the suspicion under part. 4 Art. 425 (negligent attitude to military service) and Art. 429 (organization of voluntary abandonment of the battlefield). The former commanders face up to 10 years in prison.
On May 10, 2024, it became known that the SBI began an investigation into the reasons for the Russian army’s breach of the Ukrainian border in the Kharkiv region. Investigators interrogated the military leadership of the country and soldiers who were on the battlefield in the case of the breakthrough of the Russian Federation in the Kharkiv region.
On June 17, the commander of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, Lieutenant General Artur Gorbenko announced that he was resigning.
On January 20, 2025, journalist Yuriy Butusov reported that the SBI plans to hand over suspicions to the ex-commander of Kharkiv OTU Yuriy Galushkin, the former commander of the 125th Lviv Terodefense Brigade Artur Horbenko and his deputy.