Clashes erupted in a suburb of Kyiv on November 2 following reports that Ukrainian servicemen were allegedly being unlawfully detained and beaten inside a private house. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko and Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov arrived at the scene. The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal investigation.
The incident took place in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, a village just outside the Ukrainian capital. A private house there was being used as a temporary accommodation facility for members of Ukraine’s National Guard.
Reports began circulating on social media claiming that dozens of men were being held against their will inside the building, subjected to violence, and that one person had allegedly died.
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Local residents and relatives of servicemen gathered outside the house. Some demanded the release of those inside, while the confrontation gradually escalated into clashes. Gunshots were heard during the standoff, and police vehicles were damaged.
The details were reported in an official statement by Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation.
What did police establish?
Ukraine’s National Police said officers responded after receiving a report from a private ambulance crew whose members claimed they had been prevented from reaching a person inside the building.
Police established that the property was being used by a unit of Ukraine’s National Guard, a military formation operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Authorities denied reports that anyone had died at the facility or that people were being unlawfully detained. However, allegations of possible violence against servicemen became the subject of a separate investigation.
The initial circumstances were reported by the National Police and National Guard command.
Who was inside the building?
National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko arrived at the scene.
According to Pivnenko, the house was being used to accommodate servicemen temporarily before they completed administrative procedures, underwent checks and were transferred to training centers.
There were 18 servicemen inside the building, including four who had been returned after leaving their military units without authorization.
In Ukraine, this offense is commonly referred to by the Ukrainian abbreviation SZCh, meaning absence without leave (AWOL). Depending on the circumstances, it can carry criminal penalties under Ukrainian law.
Four servicemen who required medical attention were sent to a hospital for examination.
Pivnenko also allowed relatives of some servicemen to inspect the premises and see the conditions in which the men were being accommodated.
The commander later said he had not identified any critical violations at the military facility.
Pivnenko provided details directly from the scene, according to Ukrinform.
Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office arrives at the scene
Late on November 2, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, personally visited Petropavlivska Borshchahivka.
The following day, he issued a statement describing the events as unacceptable.
“Yesterday’s events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka are unacceptable for the state and undermine the unity of Ukrainians, especially in the face of the Russian threat,” Budanov said.
According to him, law enforcement agencies and other authorized bodies are establishing all the circumstances of the incident to hold those responsible accountable and prevent similar situations in the future.
“Right now, we are working with the security and law enforcement agencies to develop all necessary measures for an appropriate response and to prevent provocations,” the head of the Presidential Office stated.
Budanov also urged Ukrainians to put the country’s interests first when resolving conflicts.
His statement was published on his official Telegram channel and was also reported by Interfax-Ukraine“.
According to Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov, a woman who was among the first to arrive at the scene in an ambulance has been detained. He alleged that she and the ambulance driver had conducted surveillance of the building for at least three days before the incident. Budanov said messages with administrators of certain Telegram channels and photographs found on her phone supported these allegations.
An investigation by Slidstvo.Info identified the woman as Valentyna Moloda. She had presented herself as the owner of a private medical clinic called Med-Prestige, although journalists reported that she did not own the facility. The clinic had ceased operations in 2023, and the ambulance used at the scene had reportedly been sold in 2024.
What did the Azov command say?
Ukraine’s 1st National Guard Corps, known as Azov, confirmed that the building was being used by one of its subordinate units.
According to the command, the facility temporarily housed mobilized personnel and servicemen who had returned after leaving their units without authorization. They were awaiting assignment to military units to continue their service.
The command condemned attempts to forcibly enter the military facility and interfere with the activities of servicemen.
At the same time, corps representatives emphasized the importance of respecting servicemen’s rights and ensuring accountability for any unlawful actions against them.
The Azov Corps statement was published by Ukrinform.
State Bureau of Investigation opens criminal proceedings
On November 3, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced that it had opened criminal proceedings under Part 5 of Article 426-1 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, concerning the possible abuse of authority or official powers by military personnel.
Investigators are examining the legality of the actions of those involved, the circumstances and conditions in which servicemen were accommodated, and allegations that coercion may have been used against them.
Separate inspections were initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Military Ombudsman.
Ukraine’s Military Ombudsman, Olha Reshetylova, stressed the need to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The SBI also pointed to the large number of conflicting reports about the events and the importance of distinguishing verified facts from unconfirmed allegations.
The agency pledged to conduct a thorough, objective and impartial investigation.
The investigation was announced on the official website of the State Bureau of Investigation. The inspections initiated by the Interior Ministry and Military Ombudsman were also reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
Why has the incident attracted so much attention?
The confrontation comes amid Ukraine’s ongoing military mobilization as the country continues to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Military recruitment, conditions of service and the treatment of mobilized personnel remain among the most sensitive issues in Ukrainian society.
The events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka demonstrated how allegations of possible violations of servicemen’s rights can quickly escalate into open confrontation.
Although law enforcement authorities have rejected some of the allegations, investigators have yet to reach final conclusions regarding possible violence and the legality of the actions of military personnel.
Ukrainian authorities are currently conducting several investigations, while the leadership of the Presidential Office has announced plans to develop measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
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