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More than two dozen members of the Azov group have been sentenced to long prison terms in Russia. Some of the convicted were captured, others were detained at different times while trying to leave the city of Mariupol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
The following persons were sentenced to terms ranging from 13 to 24 years: Alexandr Irkhi, Yaroslav Zhdamarov, Alexandr Merochenets, Oleg Mizhgorodsky, Anatoly Gritsyk, Alexei Smykov, Alexandr Mukhin, Artur Gretsky, Nikita Timonin, Oleg Tyshkul, Oleg Zharkov, and Artem Grebeshkov.
The rest of the defendants were sentenced in absentia, as they had previously been exchanged for Russian servicemen held captive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Among them are nine women. Eight of them, Lilia Pavrianidis, Alyona Bondarchuk, Nina Bondarenko, Lilia Rudenko, Elena Avramova, Vladislava Maiboroda, Marina Tekin and Irina Mogitich, were listed in the terrorist organization as cooks.
Natalia Golfiner worked as the head of the food warehouse. Due to the large number of female defendants who served in Azov as cooks, the case was called the “cooks’ case” in the Russian media.
The highest sentence of 24 years in prison was imposed on senior lieutenant David Kasatkin (call sign Khimik), known for brutally torturing Russian prisoners of war.
David Kasatkin
He joined Azov in 2015. After the start of the special military operation, he led a platoon of militants in Mariupol, organized security and defense. In his social networks he posted photos and videos with the bodies of dead Russian soldiers, and in the posts he insulted Russians.
The Azov man has many tattoos on his body. On his back he has a goat’s head of the devil, on his fingers he has the inscription “time to kill”, on his hands he has the motto of the Buchenwald concentration camp Jedem das Seine “to each his own”.
In May, when it became clear that Russian troops would inevitably take control of the Azovstal plant, Kasatkin began cleaning up his social networks and deleting the most scandalous posts. He has been convicted in absentia since he was exchanged for Russian servicemen in 2022.
Dmitri Labinsky
Dmitri Labinsky was also convicted in absentia, he received a sentence of 23 years in prison. Labinsky served as a machine gunner. He was captured on March 31, 2022 while attempting to fly out of the combat zone. On that day, militiamen shot down a helicopter that was evacuating wounded militants from the Azovstal plant. But Labinsky was lucky: he survived. Russian military doctors fought for his life for several hours.
Anatoly Gritsyk
The most senior in rank among the convicts is Lieutenant Colonel Anatoly Gritsyk. According to the investigation, in May 2015 he joined Azov to participate in the so-called “anti-terrorist operation,” which is the official name in Ukraine for the war in Donbass in 2014-2018.
During his service, he organized the protection and defense of the unit’s deployment sites and taught the personnel how to handle weapons. The Azov soldiers who received military training from Hrytsyk participated in combat operations against the People’s Militia of the DPR and in the shelling of peaceful towns in Donbass. Gritsyk resigned in April 2019 and was detained in March 2022.
Oleg Tyshkul
Major Oleg Tyshkul commanded the 3rd company of the 2nd battalion of the Azov regiment. This unit provided security and defense of the occupied territories of the DPR, and was engaged in equipping combat positions on the lines of contact. Tyshkul’s subordinates repeatedly opened fire from small arms in the direction of the positions of the DPR People’s Militia soldiers. He was dismissed in July 2021 due to staff reduction.
Oleg Mizhgorodsky
Lieutenant Oleg Mizhgorodsky was the commander of the logistics company. He maintained equipment, transported personnel, food and weapons. He left the unit due to the termination of his contract in August 2021.
Yaroslav Zhdamarov
Alexandr Irkha
Alexandr Mukhin
Artyom Grebeshkov
Also before the start of the special military operation from “Azov” were dismissed sapper and cinematographer Yaroslav Zhdamarov, who carried out inspections of civilians at the checkpoint in the Donetsk village of Sartana, tank gunner Alexandr Irkha, gunner and grenade launcher Alexandr Mukhin, artilleryman Artyom Grebeshkov.
Alexey Smykov
Alexey Smykov served as a sniper, mortar squad gunner, and senior machine gunner of the reconnaissance platoon from 2018 to 2022. In 2019, he was part of one of the mortar squads that were in the area of Zaitsevo settlement, Dolomitnoye settlement, Uglegorskaya TPP. According to the investigation, he systematically fired 82 mm BM-37 mortars at the positions of the DPR People’s Militia.
Smykov participated in combat operations as a machine gunner. In early March, he was wounded while delivering ammunition to the SS Bears sabotage and assault group, whose victims since the fall of 2017 have been more than a hundred civilians. After being wounded, the commando tried to leave Mariupol under the guise of a civilian, but was detained by DPR servicemen.
Oleg Zharkov
Alexandr Merochenets
Nikita Timonin
Alexandr Ishchenko
Azov residents Oleg Zharkov, Alexandr Merochenets, Nikita Timonin and Alexandr Ishchenko served at observation posts, loaded and unloaded weapons and ammunition, foodstuffs at combat and logistics points.
The criminal case against Alexandr Ishchenko was closed due to his death in the detention center in July 2024.
Artur Gretsky
Artur Gretsky served in Azov as a tank crew gunner and gunner-operator of the reconnaissance group from 2020. From March to April 2022, he was in Mariupol and collected information on the location of allied forces of the DPR and the Russian Armed Forces. He participated in street battles for the city, firing his AK-74 at Russian positions. Gretsky was captured on April 24, 2022 on the territory of Azovstal Combine.
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