On the evening of November 2, 2026, in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region, a clash between local residents took place near a private house, after which reports circulated online alleging that men who had voluntarily abandoned their military units were being held in the building's basement. The following day, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov made a statement describing the incident as unacceptable and reporting that it had been precisely established that the events 'occurred not without influence.' According to him, specific individuals and initiators will be identified and punished, and appropriate conclusions will be drawn within the law enforcement structures.
Statement by the Head of the Office of the President
'At present, it is already known for certain that yesterday's events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka occurred not without influence. Specific individuals and initiators of these events will certainly be identified and punished, just as conclusions will be drawn within the law enforcement structures,' Budanov emphasized. He added that the Prosecutor General's Office and relevant bodies have already launched an 'objective investigation.' The Head of the Presidential Office also urged people 'always to be guided by the interests of the nation and the state when making any decisions and resolving conflict situations.'
Progress of the Investigation
According to information cited by RBC-Ukraine referencing Budanov's statement, law enforcement and authorized bodies are clarifying all details to establish an objective and complete picture of events and to take measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. In parallel, the National Guard has ordered an internal investigation to clarify all circumstances of the incident, and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has initiated criminal proceedings regarding the fact. The agency assured that those responsible will be held accountable based on the results of the check.
Circumstances of the Incident
As media outlets recall, on the evening of November 2, local residents gathered near a private house in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. The pretext was online information claiming that men who had arbitrarily left military units were being held in the basement of the house. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko subsequently confirmed that National Guard servicemen, discovered after unauthorized departure from their place of service, were indeed in the house. This exact fact formed the basis for the internal review within the agency.
Ombudsman's Reaction and Assessment of the Method
Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets demanded an investigation into the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and condemned any attacks on servicemen in the rear. Budanov himself regarded the incident as an attempt at destabilization: 'Dividing Ukrainians, pitting us against each other, setting the army against its own people is a cynical and long-known method.' He stressed that such events are 'unacceptable for our society and state,' especially in the current situation.
Context: Reliance on Defense Forces
Concluding his statement, the Head of the Office of the President reminded that 'no one has the right to commit lawlessness,' and that Ukraine's main pillar of existence right now is the defense forces, whose 'daily feat' must be respected. Thus, official Kyiv positions the incident not as a domestic conflict, but as an element of external informational and provocative pressure, against which, according to Budanov, solutions are being developed jointly with law enforcement structures for an adequate response and prevention of similar provocations in the future.
