Zhuchkov Denis Eduardovich (Zhuchkov Denis Eduardovich)

In Mariupol, the occupied Donetsk region, no later than May 2022, Ukrainian citizens fell into captivity with Russian military personnel — 26-year-old Denis Zhuchkov, commander of the first section of the third platoon of the third company of the second battalion of the operational purpose of the separate special purpose unit "Azov" of the National Guard of Ukraine, and 24-year-old Serhii Mykhaylenko, a senior machine gunner of the National Guard of Ukraine. Zhuchkova was accused of murder, and Mikhaylenko of attempted murder, murder, and cruel treatment of the civilian population during wartime. According to the Russian investigation - on March 19, 2022, Zhuikov and Mikhaylenko were on combat duty at a position in Mariupol and were controlling the roadway of the highway when they saw a civilian vehicle with white ribbons and the inscription "Children" attached. The investigation believes that the soldiers fired at the car with automatic weapons, following the instructions of their superiors. There was a family with three young children in the car. It is claimed that two men, a woman, and a three-year-old boy died, while two children and their grandmother survived. On September 21, 2022, Denis Zhuchkov was released during the next exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine. On January 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic sentenced Sergey Mikhailenko to life imprisonment. The verdict was not appealed and entered into legal force. On February 21, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic sentenced Zhuchkov to life imprisonment in absentia. He was also placed on an international wanted list. The verdict was not appealed and entered into legal force. 5 February 2026, Sergei Mikhailenko was released during the next exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.