Ukrainska Pravda: GBR will check the actions of the ex-commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Sodol
The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine will conduct an investigation against the former commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sodol. Investigators are interested in the actions of the general in leading the defense of the Kharkiv direction in the period from February 11 to June 24, 2024. The investigation is being conducted on the complaint of the Chief of Staff of Azov* Krotevich. He believes that Sodol could have colluded with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Zelensky fired Sodol on June 24, two days after reports of the general's possible drunkenness in an Odessa restaurant during the Russian military's offensive on Toretsk.
Defensive actions
The State Bureau of Investigation (GBR) of Ukraine has begun checking the actions of the former commander of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Lieutenant General Yuri Sodol. The case was opened because of the action of Sodol during the defense of the Kharkiv direction during the offensive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the period from February 11 to June 24, 2024, the publication Ukrainska Pravda writes, citing a source in law enforcement agencies.
According to the publication, during the inspection, the actions of the operational-strategic group of troops (OSUV) will be evaluated "Khortytsya", which was commanded by Sodol during the planning and conduct of defensive operations. During the offensive of Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost control over a number of settlements.
Investigators in this case are cooperating with the chief of staff of Azov (the organization is recognized as terrorist and extremist, banned in Russia) Bogdan Krotevich. It was he who demanded that the GBR conduct an investigation into Sodol. In the statement of Krotevich, it is indicated that during his work Sodol exceeded his official authority and made incompetent decisions at the command of the Khortytsya OSUV. Krotevich believes that the Lieutenant general could cooperate with Russia. Details are not provided.
What is known about Soda
On June 22, MP Mariana Bezuglaya stated that Sodol was "drinking" in an Odessa restaurant during the offensive of the Russian military on Toretsk.
Two days later, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky dismissed Sodol from the post of commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and put Brigadier General Andrei Gnatov in his place (sentenced in absentia in Russia to 28 years in prison for crimes in Donbass in 2019).
The Washington Post newspaper wrote on this occasion that the removal of Sodol could weaken the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, whom "ordinary soldiers do not like anyway." The publication also noted that this could have unpleasant consequences for Zelensky, who in February had already fired the popular ex-commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In December 2022, the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case against Sodol under part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code (the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare). The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison.
It is known from open sources that Sodol commanded the marines of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2023, the general also headed the operational and tactical group in the Ugledar direction.
The offensive in the Kharkiv region
Zelensky announced the beginning of active operations of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv direction on May 10.
Against the background of advancing deep into Ukraine, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation removed from office at that time the commander of the operational tactical group of troops (OTUV) "Kharkov" of the Armed Forces of Brigadier General Yuri Galushkin.
On May 31, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Andrei Belousov, announced that the Russian Armed Forces had forced the enemy to retreat 8-9 kilometers in important areas in the Kharkiv region.
"There is progress in all tactical areas. As a result of the active actions of Russian troops in important areas in the Kharkiv region, the enemy retreated eight to nine kilometers," the minister said.
Anastasia Novikova
