A Russian general known as the 'Butcher of Bucha' was targeted in a bomb explosion at his military garrison. Major-General Azatbek Omurbekov, 42, commanded troops that committed mass rapes and murders during Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine. The blast occurred in Russia's Khabarovsk region, in the village of Knyaz-Volkonskoe-1, approximately 5,000 miles east of Moscow.
Explosion Details and Casualties
The explosion allegedly killed a colonel and left several others wounded. The condition of Omurbekov, believed to be the intended target, remains unknown, though one local report suggests he 'narrowly survived.' Russian authorities have classified the incident as secret and imposed an information blackout, according to VChK-OGPU, a Telegram channel with reported ties to security services.
Some 20 people were evacuated, including eight children. The person killed was identified as Lieutenant Colonel Kuzmenko, commander of the training communications battalion. The statement noted that the explosion was aimed at General Omurbekov, who since 2023 has headed the 392nd District Training Centre for Junior Specialists of the Eastern Military District. In 2022, Omurbekov led the 64th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, which operated in Bucha.
War Crimes in Bucha
Omurbekov has been declared wanted by Ukraine for war crimes related to atrocities in Bucha, where Russian soldiers tortured and killed locals. The brigade he commanded is responsible for murders in Bucha, where Russian troops raped and tortured Ukrainian civilians. On the first days of the occupation, local woman Tetiana Pomazanko was shot dead when she mistook Russian tanks for Ukrainian ones. Her body lay half-buried in her yard for nearly a month.
Her mother, Antonina Pomazanko, said she buried her daughter partially at night amid heavy shelling. Another resident, Volodymyr Shepitko, discovered the body of a naked woman in his cellar after liberation, with condom wrappers and bullet casings nearby. Ukraine's ombudswoman for human rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, recorded an instance where women and girls were held in a basement for 25 days, with nine becoming pregnant.
Rewards and Promotions
Despite his crimes, Putin rewarded Omurbekov with two promotions to full colonel and then major-general, and named him a 'Hero of Russia' for 'heroism, bravery, fortitude and courage.' Pro-Ukrainian outlet InformNapalm stated that if Omurbekov has not been caught yet, he will eventually face justice as a high-level war criminal who cannot escape punishment.
