National Guard Opens Internal Investigation into Petropavlivska Borshchahivka Incident: What Is Known

The National Guard of Ukraine has announced an internal investigation into the incident that took place on November 2 in the Kyiv region in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. This was reported by the NGU and the Military Ombudsman's Office, citing a statement from the agency and a message from Military Ombudsman Olha Reshetilova, RBC-Ukraine reports. The National Guard emphasized that the main task of the inspection is to establish the real circumstances of the incident and identify potential violations. "An internal investigation will be appointed, law enforcement agencies are working to clarify all circumstances and provide an independent legal assessment. If violations are established, the perpetrators will be held accountable under the law," the NGU said in an official statement.

Progress of the Investigation and Access to Victims

The National Guard also reported that some relatives and members of the public have already gained access to the building where the events took place and spoke with the people inside. The agency promised to regularly publish information on the condition of the victims and the progress of the investigation. At the time of publication of the statement, no additional requests for medical assistance had been received. The Military Ombudsman's Office, in turn, confirmed that it had begun investigating the circumstances of the incident directly at the scene jointly with the NGU command. "All servicemen are safe, necessary medical assistance is being provided," Reshetilova noted. The Office expects cooperation with law enforcement agencies and the Security Service of Ukraine.

Circumstances of the Incident: What Happened in the House

According to available data, on November 2, local residents gathered near a private household in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. According to information distributed on social networks, men who had arbitrarily left military units were allegedly being held in the basement of the house. An ambulance crew was called to the scene, but according to eyewitnesses, medics were not allowed onto the property. Local residents claimed that the men inside were being beaten and treated cruelly. Later, after doctors were finally allowed into the house, several men with visible injuries were led out. At that time, no official confirmation of this information had been received from the authorities.

Position of the NGU Command

Commander of the National Guard Oleksandr Pivnenko subsequently confirmed that NGU servicemen were in the house, having been discovered after unauthorized abandonment of a military unit (AWOL). Thus, the agency acknowledged the presence of its personnel in the disputed premises, but the details of their detention, conditions of detention, and possible violations against the detainees remain the subject of an ongoing internal investigation. It is this investigation, as well as the work of law enforcement agencies and the Military Ombudsman's Office, that should provide a definitive answer as to whether cases of ill-treatment took place and who is responsible for them.

Context and Next Steps

The incident in Borshchahivka caused a wide resonance in society and on social networks, where videos and eyewitness accounts were published. A night photo from the scene, showing people in dark clothing, a cloud of smoke or gas, and a car with the inscription "ДОПОМОГА" (HELP) and a phone number, became one of the most cited in the media. Now the key question is: will the investigative bodies establish facts of physical impact on the detained servicemen and will specific individuals be held accountable? The NGU and the Military Ombudsman's Office promise to regularly inform the public about the progress of the investigation and its results.