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Six Russian Commanders Convicted in Absentia Over Attack on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
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A Ukrainian court has sentenced 6 Russian military personnel in absentia—including 2 major generals and 4 tactical group commanders—to 12 years in prison for their role in the seizure and shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in March 2022.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko reported the verdict on July 28.
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The 12-year prison term for each officer will begin upon their actual detention. The court found all 6 servicemen guilty under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for violating the laws and customs of war committed by prior conspiracy.
Case details show these officers directed the takeover of the nuclear facility during the initial phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Supported by tanks and heavy armor, Russian forces fired on the plant in the direction of its nuclear reactors and spent fuel storage facilities.
"A fire broke out on the territory of the station, critically important networks and communications were damaged. The Russian military did not allow rescuers to extinguish the fire, while ZNPP employees remained blocked at their workplaces.
The actions of the occupiers could have led to the destruction of the protective barriers of the reactors and a large-scale release of radioactive substances," according to the official statement.
The convicted commanders include Major General Aleksei Yuryevich Dombrovsky, deputy head of the main directorate of the Russian National Guard in Krasnodar Krai, call sign "Zvezda-08," and Major General Dmitry Petrovich Chistyakov, commander of a reinforced tactical group of the 749th separate operational battalion of the Russian National Guard in Dagestan.
Also sentenced were Colonel Aleksei Alekseyevich Reshetnev, commander of a regiment guarding important state facilities in the Volga district, call sign "122," and Colonel Yuri Nikolayevich Lukachev, commander of the 22nd separate operational brigade "Kobra," call sign "Kulon."
They were convicted alongside Colonel Sergei Nikolayevich Dovgan, department head for securing important state facilities in the Siberian district, call sign "Zvezda-09," and Lieutenant Colonel Muradkhan Alderkhanovich Akhmedkhanov, commander of a reinforced tactical group of the 749th separate operational battalion, call sign "Sheikh."
On March 4, 2026, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the four-year occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Russian forces following its seizure in March 2022.
Officials reported that the plant suffered multiple power outages, and they warned that any Russian attempts to restart its reactors posed severe risks to global nuclear safety.
Beyond technical dangers, the occupation brought severe human rights abuses, with up to 2,000 civilians and facility employees in Enerhodar facing illegal detention, torture, and forced disappearances. Consequently, Ukraine called for the immediate de-occupation and demilitarization of the facility, demanding the full restoration of Ukrainian control.
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