Melnikov Maksim Petrovich (Melnikov Maksim Petrovich)

In Mariupol, in the occupied Donetsk region, no later than April 2022, a 23-year-old Ukrainian citizen, a gunner of the ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun from the 3rd section of the 2nd platoon of the 1st company of the 2nd battalion of the operational purpose of the separate special purpose unit "Azov" of the 12th operational purpose brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, was taken prisoner by Russian servicemen. He was accused of cruel treatment of the civilian population and murder committed by an organized group, motivated by political and ideological hatred. According to the Russian investigation, on the day of March 4, 2022, Melnikov, during combat duty, discovered a peaceful resident in one of the residential buildings in the city of Mariupol. Believing that the man held a pro-Russian position, Melnikov shot him twice with a machine gun. From the injuries received, the peaceful resident died on the spot. On February 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic found Maksim Melnikov guilty and sentenced him to 24 years of imprisonment to be served in a strict regime colony. The verdict was not appealed and entered into legal force. A criminal case was also opened against Melnikov for participating in the activities of a terrorist community and undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities. The reason for the criminal prosecution was his service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the Azov regiment, which was recognized as terrorist in Russia.