Ukrainian law enforcement has charged a Russian soldier, identified as Artem Dementyev, a sniper from the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment, with war crimes related to the killings and torture of civilians in Bucha, a town near Kyiv. This development follows investigations into atrocities committed during the Russian invasion in March 2022.
Evidence gathered by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) and the National Police indicates that Dementyev was involved in the execution of local territorial defense member Andriy Matviychuk. Surveillance footage captured during the conflict shows Dementyev at the scene of the shootings on Yablunska Street in Bucha.
According to the charges published by the Office of the Prosecutor General, Ukrainian authorities have documented Dementyev’s involvement in the murder of Matviychuk, who was captured, tortured, and executed by Russian forces on March 4, 2022. The investigation included analysis of video evidence, as well as forensic and ballistic examinations.
“Dementyev A.S. […] executed the victim by firing a shot from his automatic weapon, causing death from a gunshot wound to the head,” the charges state.
Matviychuk, a 38-year-old resident of Bucha, had joined the local territorial defense following the onset of the full-scale invasion. His capture and subsequent execution were recorded by surveillance cameras. After the area was liberated, his body was discovered with hands bound and a gunshot wound to the head, alongside other victims of the mass shooting.
In addition to the charges related to Matviychuk’s death, the SBI suspects Dementyev of involvement in another murder in Bucha that occurred on March 6, 2022. The allegations against him include cruel treatment of civilians and other violations of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder by a group of individuals.
The Office of the Prosecutor General is overseeing the legal proceedings against Dementyev. Reports indicate that he was killed in combat in Ukraine in the summer of 2025, with discussions ongoing regarding posthumous honors for his service.
During the Russian occupation of Bucha, which lasted from February 24 to March 31, 2022, the region witnessed numerous civilian casualties. According to the Bucha City Council’s Archive Department, 554 civilians were killed during this period, with 43 bodies remaining unidentified and 38 civilians reported missing. At least 33 men are still believed to be in captivity, with one confirmed to have died while imprisoned by Russian forces.
The Russian government has consistently denied involvement in the mass killings in Bucha. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that no local residents suffered violent actions during their presence in the town, while President Vladimir Putin labeled the reports of mass executions as “fake” and a “provocation.”
Ukrainian authorities have charged Russian soldier Artem Dementyev with war crimes related to the torture and murder of civilians in Bucha during the 2022 invasion. Investigations reveal his involvement in the execution of local territorial defense member Andriy Matviychuk, among other alleged atrocities.