Sergey Ivanovich Kobylash (Russian: Сергей Иванович Кобылаш; born 1 April 1965) is a Russian military officer who serves as a lieutenant general and commander of the Long-Range Aviation branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.[1] In 2024 a warrant for the arrest of Kobylash was issued by the International Criminal Court for his alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of the Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure (2022–present).[1]
Sergey Kobylash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Сергей Иванович Кобылаш |
| Born | 1 April 1965 Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union Russia |
| Service |  Soviet Air Forces Russian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | Long-Range Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces |
Biography
editAt several times, including February 2017 and the period from July 2019 to March 2023, Kobylash has been reported as commander of the Long-Range Aviation branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.[1][2][3]
On February 22, 2017, media reported that Kobylash had been promoted to lieutenant general by Vladimir Putin for service rendered during the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war.[3]
On December 12, 2017, Kobylash awarded Tu-22M3 crews returning from deployment in Syria to Shaykovka air base near Kirov, Kaluga Oblast with the medal "Participant of the military operation in Syria".[4][5]
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Kobylash receiving Tu-22M3 crews at Shaykovka air base after bombing missions in Syria -
Kobylash awarding Tu-22M3 crew member at Shaykovka air base for his bombing missions in Syria -
Medal awarded by Kobylash at Shaykovka air base for bombing missions in Syria -
Kobylash making a statement to Russian media including Channel One Russia
On 5 March 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Admiral Viktor Sokolov and Kobylash, as part of its Ukraine investigation, citing his alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity of directing attacks at civilian objects, causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects and inhumane acts during the Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and electrical grid, all under the Rome Statute.[1][6][7]
On 10 September 2024 the Ukrainian government accused Kobylash of ordering the attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv on 8 July.[8] Ukraine’s SBU security service said in a statement that “Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash held the post of long-range aviation commander for the Russian aerospace forces at the time, and after delivering this strike, was promoted and appointed commander of the Russian aerospace forces.”[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d International Criminal Court press release about arrest warrants against Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov, International Criminal Court, 5 March 2024, Wikidata Q124748309, archived from the original on 5 March 2024
- ^ Russian-Chinese air patrol raises tension in Korean Peninsula, Al Jazeera English, 24 July 2019, Wikidata Q124757603, archived from the original on 7 March 2024
- ^ a b "Путин дал новые звания генералам за Сирию" [Putin gave new ranks to generals for Syria]. vesti.ru (in Russian). 22 February 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Ту-22М3 вернулись на аэродром дислокации после выполнения задач в Сирии" [Tu-22M3 returned to the deployment air base after completing missions in Syria]. TASS (in Russian). 12 December 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Tu-22M3 aircraft return back home in Kaluga region from North Ossetia". eng.mil.ru. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Russia/Ukraine: ICC issues arrest warrants for top Russian commanders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity". Amnesty International. 5 March 2024.
- ^ "ICC issues arrest warrants for top Russian commanders". BBC News. 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine identifies Russian general suspected of ordering strike on Kyiv children's hospital".
- ^ "Ukraine Blames Russian General Wanted by ICC for Deadly Children's Hospital Strike".
External links
edit
Media related to Sergey Kobylash at Wikimedia Commons
