Ukrainian prisoner of war Alexander Ishchenko, who served as a driver in the Azov brigade, died in a Rostov pretrial detention center as a result of a closed chest injury due to «contact with a blunt object.» This is the conclusion reached by a Ukrainian forensic expert, whose report was published on Facebook by Azov commander Svyatoslav Palamar.
The certificate from the Dnepropetrovsk regional bureau of forensic examination also mentions multiple fractures of the ribs of the prisoner of war. The expert was unable to determine exactly when Ishchenko received these injuries. It is also unknown how the Ukrainian's body was delivered to his homeland. The last known exchange of bodies of dead servicemen between Russia and Ukraine occurred on August 2.
The death of Alexander Ishchenko became known on July 31 during a session of the military court in Rostov-on-Don. The circumstances and date of the prisoner of war's death were not specified at that time.
The Ukrainian was captured by Russia in the spring of 2022 in Mariupol. He then became a defendant in a criminal case along with 23 other compatriots who at various times served in Azov under contract or were civilian employees. Some participated in the defense of Mariupol and Azovstal, while others had already left the service at the time of the Russian invasion and were detained at home or during «filtration».
The criminal case was initially opened on the territory of the self-proclaimed DPR and the accused were held in a pre-trial detention center in Donetsk. In September 2022, the case was transferred to the court, which, after several months of hearings, referred it to the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don.
Alexander Ishchenko was charged under two articles — participation in the activities of a terrorist organization (Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code) and an attempt to violently seize power (Article 278 of the Criminal Code). Memorial recognized him and other captured Azov members, who are being tried under «terrorist» articles, as political prisoners.