The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR) has taken a decisive step toward exposing those who fuel the Kremlin’s war machine. On the War&Sanctions portal, the GUR launched a new specialized database titled “Engineers of Aggression,” dedicated to identifying the Russian scientists, designers, and engineers responsible for developing modern weaponry used against Ukraine. This initiative was officially announced by the GUR press service, marking a new phase in the psychological and legal pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russian scientific community plays a fundamental role in sustaining the ongoing genocidal war. Scientists and engineers work tirelessly in fields such as rocket propulsion, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), guidance systems, and artificial intelligence. These advancements are directly translated into devastating strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and residential areas. Shockingly, many of these individuals remain active participants in the global scientific community. They receive international grants, collaborate with foreign research institutions, and attend international forums. The knowledge and expertise they acquire abroad are subsequently weaponized in Russian defense facilities to construct highly destructive tools of mass murder.
The initial release of the “Engineers of Aggression” database features top-tier weapon designers whose creations are regularly deployed against Ukrainian targets. Among them is Sergey Syursin, the chief designer of the Votkinsk Plant, who oversees the production of ballistic missiles for the Iskander-M system and the RS-26 Rubezh (recently publicized as Oreshnik). Another prominent figure is Eltugan Sizdikov, the deputy director and chief designer at GosMKB Raduga, the primary enterprise behind the strategic Kh-101 cruise missiles. The list also includes Vitaliy Iekel, the chief designer of the Strela Production Association, who directs the development and modernization of the 3M55M Oniks-M supersonic cruise missiles.
The primary objective of this project is to eliminate the anonymity of these defense experts and ensure they face rigorous international sanctions. While some of these designers have already been blacklisted by allied nations, many others have previously avoided scrutiny. By exposing their identities and specific contributions to war crimes, Ukraine hopes to sever their ties with international academic institutions and block their access to foreign travel. The GUR has emphasized that this list will continue to expand, ensuring that anyone complicit in the suffering of the Ukrainian people will find no safe haven in the global community.