---
title: "SBU in absentia serves notice of suspicion to General Dvornikov, who commanded the seizure of Kherson"
description: "The SBU and the prosecutor's office have served a notice of suspicion in absentia to the former commander of the Russian Southern Military District, Alexander Dvornikov, who, according to the investigation, commanded the invasion of the Kherson region and the capture of Kherson on February 24, 2022."
date: 2026-11-10T17:38:54.398Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sbu-suspicion-general-dvornikov-kherson
tags: [ukraine, russia, sbu, military, kherson, war-crimes]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# SBU in absentia serves notice of suspicion to General Dvornikov, who commanded the seizure of Kherson

![Russian General Alexander Dvornikov in military uniform speaking at a podium.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/sbu-podozrenie-generalu-dvornikovu-zahvat-hersona/sbu-podozrenie-generalu-dvornikovu-zahvat-hersona-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The SBU and the prosecutor's office served a notice of suspicion in absentia to former Russian Southern Military District commander Alexander Dvornikov under Part 2 Art. 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
- According to the investigation, on February 24, 2022, he ordered the invasion of the Kherson region via the Chongar and Kalanchak checkpoints and commanded the capture of Kherson.
- After taking the regional center, Russia expected to occupy Mykolaiv, Odesa, and the Black Sea region; the offensive was blocked, and the right bank was liberated on November 11, 2022.
- Dvornikov's case continues a series of in absentia suspicions by Ukrainian law enforcement against Russian generals (Seliverstov, Stepanishchev, Baranov).

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Prosecutor General's Office, has served a notice of suspicion in absentia to Russian General Alexander Dvornikov, former commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. According to the investigation, it was he who, on February 24, 2022, ordered subordinate units to invade the Kherson region from the temporarily occupied Crimea and commanded the capture of the regional center.

### Charges and Collected Evidence

According to the SBU, investigators and prosecutors have gathered a sufficient body of evidence on the basis of which Dvornikov was notified of suspicion in absentia. The defendant is incriminated with waging aggressive war or aggressive military operations under Part 2 of Article 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The agency emphasizes that comprehensive measures to bring the war criminal to justice are ongoing.

### The Course of the Offensive on February 24, 2022

According to the case files, the invasion order was given on the first day of the full-scale invasion. Ground forces invaded the Kherson region through the Chongar and Kalanchak checkpoints, which had been previously shelled with various types of weapons. Simultaneously, Russian aviation launched strikes against the region's civilian infrastructure, notably the airfield in Chornobaivka.

### Bridgehead and Strategic Goals

According to the investigation, Dvornikov commanded the seizure of a bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnipro River, which was supposed to secure the further advance of the Russian army toward Kherson. After taking the regional center, as noted in the suspicion notice, Russian troops expected to occupy Mykolaiv, Odesa, and the entire Black Sea region of Ukraine.

### Failure of the Offensive

However, according to Ukrainian law enforcement, the Defense Forces blocked the offensive actions of the Russian troops. As early as November 11, 2022, the right-bank part of the Kherson region was liberated, which essentially thwarted the plan for a rapid capture of southern Ukraine.

### Context: A Series of Cases Against Russian Generals

Dvornikov's case is not an isolated incident. Previously, the SBU announced suspicions against General Vladimir Seliverstov, who, according to the investigation, commanded the operation to capture Kyiv "in three days," as well as Lieutenant General Konstantin Stepanishchev, deputy commander of the 6th Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District, who planned the "blitzkrieg" to capture Kharkiv. Suspicion was also served on Major General Robert Baranov, who is linked to missile strikes on Ukraine.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Командовал захватом Херсона: СБУ объявила подозрение российскому генералу Дворникову](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/komanduvav-zahoplennyam-hersona-sbu-ogolosila-1794328412.html) - Primary source: in absentia suspicion of Dvornikov under Part 2 Art. 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, invasion order on 24.02.2022, Chongar/Kalanchak checkpoints, strike on Chornobaivka, liberation of the right bank on 11.11.2022, parallel cases against Seliverstov, Stepanishchev, Baranov.
- [СБУ объявила подозрение генералу РФ, командовавшему захватом Херсона](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20261110-sbu-ogolosyla-pidozru-generalu-rf-yakyj-komanduvav-zahoplennyam-hersona/) - Подтверждено по источнику fakty.com.ua
- [СБУ объявила о предъявлении подозрения генералу РФ, командовавшему захватом Херсона в 2022 году](https://nv.ua/ukraine/events/sbu-i-prokuratura-zaochno-obyavili-podozrenie-generalu-rf-dvornikovu-vtorzhenie-v-hersonskuyu-oblast-50657982.html) - Подтверждено по источнику nv.ua

## FAQ

### Who did the SBU serve a notice of suspicion to?

Russian General Alexander Dvornikov, former commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

### What is he accused of?

Waging an aggressive war or aggressive military operations (Part 2 Art. 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). According to the investigation, on February 24, 2022, he ordered the invasion of the Kherson region and commanded the capture of Kherson.

### Through which route did the invasion take place, according to the investigation?

Through the Chongar and Kalanchak checkpoints, which were previously shelled; simultaneously, Russian aviation struck civilian infrastructure, including the airfield in Chornobaivka.

### When was the right bank of the Kherson region liberated?

According to the SBU, on November 11, 2022.