At a training ground near Chernihiv, a commander beat a mobilized soldier to death and ordered his troops to bury the body

In the urban-type settlement of Honcharivske in the Chernihiv region, a soldier named Volodymyr K. killed a mobilized serviceman, Oleksandr R., at a military training ground. On March 5, the Chernihiv District Court sentenced him to nine years in prison.

The court’s verdict was published in the Unified Register of Court Decisions.

The incident occurred in the fall of 2023.

At the time of his mobilization into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Volodymyr K. had already been convicted twice: in 2012 for grievous bodily harm resulting in the death of a victim and in 2021 for intentional minor bodily harm that caused temporary health impairment. He served five years in prison for the first offense and paid a fine of 1,700 hryvnias for the second.

According to case materials, during their time at the training ground, tensions arose between Oleksandr R. and Volodymyr K. The suspect was appointed squad leader, and the victim was under his command.

In court, Volodymyr K. stated that he believed his subordinate was a drug addict and “partially fit” for military service. He claimed to have repeatedly noticed Oleksandr consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana, even while on duty. Additionally, drugs were allegedly found in his possession.

The suspect reported all these incidents to his commander, but no action was taken. After multiple such occurrences, the squad leader announced that the soldier would be transferred to another unit.

A conflict later broke out between Volodymyr and Oleksandr, during which the suspect beat the soldier. Oleksandr managed to escape but was later found lying motionless among trees near the road.

Volodymyr K. examined the soldier’s body, confirmed he was dead, then dumped it into a shallow pit and covered it with sand, placing a burnt log on top.

He chose not to report the incident to his commander, only stating that Oleksandr R. had once again disappeared from the unit without permission.

For nearly a year, the deceased was listed as having deserted until a forester accidentally discovered his body in June 2024.

A forensic examination revealed that the soldier had broken ribs and a neck injury. Witnesses testified that Oleksandr R. did not regularly use drugs but occasionally smoked marijuana. They also stated that Volodymyr K. frequently beat and harassed him, suspecting him of disloyalty and of potentially reporting him to the command.

Witnesses further recounted that on September 22, 2023, Volodymyr K. severely beat Oleksandr R. inside a tent. Afterward, fellow soldiers carried Oleksandr outside at his request. Upon seeing him again, the squad leader attacked and began beating him mercilessly. After the brutal assault, Volodymyr ordered the soldiers to drag Oleksandr into the forest, where he delivered the fatal blows.

He then instructed his subordinates to take shovels and dig a pit, where they disposed of the body.

Volodymyr K. warned them not to speak of the incident to anyone.