Oleksandr Ruvin / TSN
The attack on the director of the Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of the Justice Ministry Oleksandr Ruvin could be linked to his professional activities, primarily with the expert examination of the most resonant criminal cases, Editor-in-Chief of censor.net.ua Yuriy Butusov wrote on Facebook.
An attempt on Ruvin may result in a serious problem for the state, as the man plays a key role in the investigation of the Malaysian Boeing air crash. Oleksandr Ruvin is Ukraine's only internationally certified demolitions expert.
He is a member of the joint investigation team regarding the crash of Malaysian Boeing, and it was he who represented Ukraine's position of Ukraine at all meetings, exposing manipulations by Russian experts.
"A biochemical analysis of the Russian Buk fragments was made in the Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, as well as an expert examination of all Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles and "air-to-air" missiles, which proved Ukraine's non-complicity in the crime. The Dutch prosecutors follow his examination conclusions. Besides, the investigation activities are continuing – Ukraine will send to the Netherlands a batch of physical evidence in several days," Butusov said.
Read alsoWhite House: MH17 shot down by "surface to air" missile fired from separatist-controlled territoryRuvin led a group of military and tactical expertise.
"Ruvin made an enormous contribution to the military and tactical expertise, which gave an objective assessment of the death of at least 350 Ukrainian soldiers encircled in Ilovaisk on August 29, 2014. The military tactical expertise on Ilovaisk allows assessing the actions of the General Staff in court, and such court will necessarily take place," he said.
Ruvin was also an expert in the case of IL-76 air crash in Luhansk airport, killing 49 soldiers.
Read alsoMeduza: Bellingcat's Eliot Higgins dissects the MH17 reportsThe press service of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv told an UNIAN correspondent that the incident occurred in the city's Obolon district late Wednesday. The law enforcement officers found out that Ruvin arrived home by car. As soon as he got out of the car, an unknown person ran up to him and fired three shots from an unidentified weapon. When the victim fell, the assailant left the scene.
The prosecutors opened criminal proceedings under Article 15 Part 1, Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (attempt to murder). Law enforcers establish all the circumstances of the incident and the identity of the attacker.