Leonid Vladimirovich KHARCHENKO

Former so-called ‘Commander’ of a Reconnaissance Battalion of the Military Intelligence Agency of the ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk’ and convicted by the District Court of The Hague for the downing of Flight MH17 on 17 November 2022.

Therefore, Leonid Kharchenko is responsible for supporting and implementing actions and policies which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Function: Head of the Krot Reconnaissance Battalion of the 2nd Department of the Military Intelligence Agency (GRU) of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”

Leonid Kharchenko was commander of the “Reconnaissance Battalion” intelligence unit of the socalled “Donetsk People’s Republic” and took an active part in the separatist movement at an early stage of the armed conflict in Ukraine. He was found guilty by a Dutch court over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. In 2018, Kharchenko retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel from the “Donetsk People’s Republic” forces. He took part in local elections in Crimea following his recommendation to the Commission by the Crimean Republican branch of the “Communists of Russia”. These elections were in breach of Ukrainian law and therefore illegal.

Leonid Kharchenko était le commandant de l’unité de renseignement du "bataillon de reconnaissance" de la soi-disant "République populaire de Donetsk" et a participé de manière active au mouvement séparatiste à un stade précoce du conflit armé en Ukraine. Il a été reconnu coupable par un tribunal néerlandais de la destruction de l’appareil du vol MH17 de la Malaysia Airlines en 2014. En 2018, Kharchenko a pris sa retraite des forces de la "République populaire de Donetsk" au rang de lieutenant-colonel. Il a participé aux élections locales, en Crimée, à la suite de sa recommandation à la commission par la branche républicaine de Crimée des "Communistes de Russie". Ces élections ont violé la loi ukrainienne et sont par conséquent illégales. Par conséquent, Leonid Kharchenko est responsable de soutenir et de mettre en œuvre des actions et des politiques qui compromettent et menacent l’intégrité territoriale, la souveraineté et l’indépendance de l’Ukraine.

A national and an international alert have been issued against the wanted person. Current information can be found on

командир разведподразделения ГРУ ДНР