Violations of the laws and customs of war include the cruel treatment of civilians. Since 2014, Russia has committed this crime against humanity on Ukrainian territory. At least 28,000 Ukrainians in occupied areas are considered missing. Methods such as «filtration», torture, interrogations, «clean-ups», and beatings are tactics that ruscists use against unarmed citizens.

The Charity Fund «Direct Inclusion» continues its series on the crimes of Russian occupiers. Our goal is to ensure that the entire world sees the faces of the monsters who perpetrated these atrocities in Ukraine so that every terrorist receives just punishment.

The leader of the «punitive raids» in Luhansk region: who is Olhazur Yusupov?

In 2022, Olhazur Yusupov led one of the rapid response units of the «Akmat» National Guard in the Chechen Republic. He concealed his real name under the codename «Lobzik». In April of that year, he and other «Kadyrovites» found themselves in the village of Makiyivka in the Svatove district of Luhansk region.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) established that Yusupov organized kidnappings, interrogations, and torture of locals. His goal was to intimidate people and suppress resistance. The Ukrainian Security Service documented one instance of these crimes.

Investigators have proven that Yusupov ordered seven «Kadyrovites» to conduct a «clean-up» at the village head's home. They stole money, equipment, and mobile phones and then forcibly took the woman and her husband to a gymnasium, which the Russians turned into a torture chamber.

Under Yusupov's command, the ruscists attempted to extract information from the village head about the activities and locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They tortured her with electric shocks, beat her with a plastic pipe, and chained her to a radiator for several hours. Afterward, they released her but threatened to kill her if she didn't provide information about her fellow villagers soon. The woman managed to escape from the temporarily occupied settlement to a territory Ukrainian-controlled and reported on Yusupov's and his subordinates' atrocities.

Where is Yusupov hiding now?

After the de-occupation of the village, SSU officers gathered evidence of the russian commander's guilt. They spoke with witnesses and obtained photocopies of his documents.

Law enforcement also determined that after relocating from Makiyivka, Yusupov continued his criminal activities in Ukraine. In the temporarily occupied Enerhodar (Zaporizhzhia region), he commanded an enemy group called «Akmat-neftepolk».

In early January 2023, the SBU reported suspicions against Yusupov for the cruel treatment of civilians, violating several laws and customs of war in conspiracy, and issuing criminal orders. However, he is currently evading justice.

We will do everything possible to punish the perpetrators of crimes

Our foundation will make every effort to ensure that Russian terrorists cannot evade responsibility for their crimes. Occupiers and murderers have no right to live peaceful lives. They will inevitably face punishment under Ukrainian and international law.

Spread the word about Russia's war crimes using the hashtags #JusticeForUkraine and #Stopruscism, continue to donate, and never lose faith in Ukraine’s victory.

This material was compiled using publicly available internet sources