The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
War has many faces. But one of the darkest is the face of the executioner.
It does not always shout, nor does it always hide behind a mask. Sometimes it speaks in a calm voice, gives orders, and calls itself “Lawyer”.
On March 12, the Security Service of Ukraine announced suspicion under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine against a SOBR fighter from Dagestan for torturing a civilian in the city of Polohy.
A detailed dossier on this war criminal was published by the “Book of Executioners of the Ukrainian People”.
What is known about the suspect
Shamil Gadzhimagomedovich Makhmudov (born 02.01.1984) — a native of Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, a citizen of the Russian Federation. At the time of the crime, he held the position of senior operative officer of the SOBR special rapid response unit “Yastreb-Kaspii” of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of Russia in the Republic of Dagestan. In the occupied territory, he operated under the call sign “Lawyer”.
His task in the Polohy district of Zaporizhzhia region was to identify pro-Ukrainian residents in occupied territories.
This is already the third case against Makhmudov. Two indictments were previously sent to court — in April and June 2025.
Circumstances of the crime
On July 20, 2023, at 6:00 a.m., Makhmudov, together with at least ten masked fighters, broke into a private house in occupied Zaporizhzhia region, where a local resident lived with his family.
One of the militants pushed the victim, who fell face down and tried to get up. At that moment, Makhmudov struck him in the genitals with a military boot. After that, the entire group began beating the man, inflicting at least 25 blows with hands, feet, and rifle butts to his torso and limbs.
Then, without explanation, Makhmudov ordered the victim to be thrown into the trunk of a VAZ 2112 car.
He was ordered to cover his eyes with his hands, which were then taped to his head, and in this position — along with two other people in the trunk — he was transported to a building at the railway station in Polohy (37 Pryvokzalna St. / 2 Shevchenka St.). There, he was left lying on the floor until evening and later taken to spend the night in a basement. Throughout this time, his hands remained taped to his head. He was given neither food nor water.
On the morning of July 21, instead of tape, handcuffs were placed on him and he was taken outside, where Makhmudov began an “interrogation”. Not obtaining the desired information, he took a metal rod and struck the victim at least 50 times on the limbs and torso and 10 times on the head.
At the same time, he threatened to kill him and his entire family, as well as threatened rape — of the victim himself, his partner, and their minor children.
Suspicion
The Security Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region has notified Makhmudov of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — cruel treatment of civilians and other violations of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.
The investigation qualifies his actions as unlawful deprivation of liberty, torture, sexual violence, and threats of sexual violence against the victim and his family members — all of which constitute grave violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons and Additional Protocol I.
