Ukrainian Security Service Identifies Russian Commanders Behind Kharkiv Printing Plant Strike

Investigation into the Missile Attack on Factor-Druk

According to Главком: Ukrainian special services have identified the Russian military personnel responsible for a missile strike on the Factor-Druk printing complex in Kharkiv on May 23, 2024. This attack on a civilian facility resulted in the deaths of seven people, with a further nine wounded. Four suspects in the case have been formally notified of suspicion in absentia.

The investigation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General and with the participation of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence. It was established that representatives of the command of the Russian Armed Forces were directly involved in the strike on the civilian object. The attack on Factor-Druk was carried out using three 5V55 missiles launched from an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. The assault was organized by servicemen of the Special Tactical Missile Group No. 3, which was formed on the basis of the 568th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the 76th Air Defence Division, part of the 14th Army of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Russian Central Military District.

Individuals Implicated in the Attack

Among those implicated in organizing the strike are:

• Colonel General Oleksiy Kim, who made the decision to carry out the strike;
• Colonel Serhiy Monyetov, who gathered intelligence data and initiated the inclusion of the target on the strike list;
• Vice Admiral Oleksandr Peshkov, who was responsible for planning the attack;
• Lieutenant General Andriy Tsyhanov, who gave the direct order to launch missiles at the enterprise.

The suspects have been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – violation of the laws and customs of war, resulting in loss of life. In a related development, the Factor-Druk printing house has been restored with funding from American philanthropist Howard Buffett. Separately, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has published data on 48 enterprises of the Russian holding company Shvabe, which are involved in Russia's military-industrial complex under the guise of manufacturing medical equipment.

This case underscores the importance of international cooperation in investigating war crimes, as well as Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression.

The restoration of the Factor-Druk printing complex demonstrates support from international partners, aiding Ukraine in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the conflict. Monitoring the activities of Russian enterprises involved in the war effort remains critical for understanding and countering threats in the region. The SBU's identification of specific commanders is part of a broader effort to document and pursue accountability for attacks on civilian targets.

The ongoing conflict has seen various incidents of espionage and sabotage, highlighting the complex interplay of military actions and intelligence operations. Recently, a defense plant employee was apprehended for allegedly leaking sensitive weapons test data to Russia, raising concerns about security within Ukrainian facilities. To learn more about this troubling development, visit the full report on the espionage case.