Russian lieutenant colonel from regiment accused of war crimes killed in St. Petersburg blast

A Russian lieutenant colonel, Sergei Sechkov, died in a blast in St. Petersburg on Aug. 27. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the helicopter regiment Sechkov served in has been accused of war crimes. Sechkov's father confirmed his son's death to AgentstvoNews, a Russian outlet. Ukrainian intelligence has identified members of Sechkov's regiment as war criminals. Sechkov was 43 and originally from Ryazan. His wife, Anna, was injured in the explosion and works at a parcel pickup point near the site.

78.ru reported that Sechkov had reportedly told his superiors he was "on a hit list." Fontanka cited unnamed sources, claiming that the bomb was planted by a 24-year-old woman who allegedly arrived from another city, planted the bomb, flew to Turkey, and was contacted by "certain people" through a messaging app. The suspect is said to have located the vehicle, attached the bomb, and traveled to Turkey as early as Aug.

27. In May 2022, Ukraine's military intelligence accused Sechkov's regiment of carrying out missile and bomb strikes against Ukrainian civilians in the Slobozhanshchyna direction.