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Russian Military Colonel Arrested for Fraud Linked to Bucha Massacre
A Russian military colonel has been arrested for fraud related to the Bucha massacre, shedding light on potential involvement in the tragic event. Stay updated on the latest developments.
The Russian authorities have arrested a top military colonel, Artyom Gorodilov, and charged him with large-scale fraud, as reported by the state news agency TASS on Thursday. Gorodilov, who previously commanded troops responsible for the 2022 massacre in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, was apprehended on July 3.
Gorodilov is accused of committing fraud amounting to at least a million rubles ($11,236). Following his arrest, a military court ordered him to be held in pretrial detention until Aug. 19. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. Gorodilov has denied any wrongdoing.
Currently serving as the commander of the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade in the Russian Far East, Gorodilov had previously led the 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment based in Pskov, Russia. An investigation by The New York Times in 2022 revealed that members of the 234th Regiment were involved in the massacre of civilians on Yablunska Street in Bucha, during the early days of the war in Ukraine.
During the occupation of Bucha by Russian forces, Gorodilov led the unit and was present in the town where hundreds of civilians died, some as a result of brutal executions. The U.S. government had imposed sanctions on Gorodilov in the past for his alleged involvement in gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings.
Despite Moscow’s denial of involvement in the Bucha killings, evidence suggests the presence of Russian troops in the area during the massacre. The arrest of Colonel Gorodilov is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the Russian Ministry of Defense, with high-ranking officials facing charges and imprisonment.
The recent removal of longtime defense minister Sergei K. Shoigu by President Vladimir V. Putin marked a shift in leadership within the military. Putin appointed economic adviser Andrei R. Belousov to oversee the military operations, signaling a potential effort to combat corruption as Russia continues its military operations in Ukraine.