---
title: "National Guard Opens Internal Investigation into Petropavlivska Borshchahivka Incident: What Is Known"
description: "The National Guard of Ukraine has appointed an internal investigation into the incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, where, according to eyewitnesses, servicemen who left their units without permission were held and beaten in a private house. The Military Ombudsman's Office is working on the site."
date: 2026-11-02T19:22:04.895Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/national-guard-investigation-borshchahivka
tags: [ukraine, national-guard, borshchahivka, military-incident, ombudsman, investigation]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

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

![Night shot from the scene of the incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka with silhouettes of people, smoke, and an ambulance](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/02/natsgvardiya-rassledovanie-borshchagovka/natsgvardiya-rassledovanie-borshchagovka-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The NGU announced the appointment of an internal investigation into the incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka
- The Military Ombudsman's Office of Olha Reshetilova is working on the site jointly with the NGU command
- NGU Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko confirmed that servicemen discovered after AWOL were in the house
- Eyewitnesses reported beatings of detainees; at the time of the NGU statement, there was no official confirmation of ill-treatment
- The agency promises to regularly publish information on the progress of the inspection and the condition of the victims

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.

## Accounts differ

### Facts of ill-treatment of detained servicemen

- **Local residents and eyewitnesses:** Men were beaten and treated cruelly in the basement of the house; after medics were allowed in, several men with injuries were led out of the house ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/skandal-petropavlivskiy-borshchagivtsi-natsgvardiya-1793646206.html))
- **National Guard of Ukraine:** NGU servicemen discovered after AWOL were in the house; circumstances and possible violations are being established during the internal investigation ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/skandal-petropavlivskiy-borshchagivtsi-natsgvardiya-1793646206.html))

*Where they agree:* NGU servicemen discovered after unauthorized abandonment of a military unit were in the house in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka; this is confirmed by the NGU command

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Скандал на Петропавловской Борщаговке: Нацгвардия анонсировала служебное расследование](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/skandal-petropavlivskiy-borshchagivtsi-natsgvardiya-1793646206.html) - Statements by the NGU and the Military Ombudsman's Office are confirmed. Facts of beatings and injuries of detainees are based on testimonies of eyewitnesses and local residents; official confirmation of these details had not been received at the time of publication. The NGU commander confirmed only the presence of servicemen after AWOL.

## FAQ

### What happened in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka on November 2?

Local residents gathered near a private house, in the basement of which, according to them, men who had arbitrarily left military units were being held. Eyewitnesses reported beatings of the detainees. Later, the NGU command confirmed that National Guard servicemen discovered after unauthorized abandonment of the unit were in the house.

### What measures is the National Guard taking?

The NGU has appointed an internal investigation to establish the circumstances and possible violations. Law enforcement agencies are working on site. The Military Ombudsman's Office is also conducting an inspection jointly with the NGU command. The agency promises to regularly publish information on the progress of the investigation.

### Are the facts of beating the detainees confirmed?

At the time of publication of official statements, facts of beatings by the NGU were not confirmed. Local residents and eyewitnesses reported beatings and injuries. Establishing these circumstances is the goal of the appointed internal investigation.

### Who is conducting the inspection?

The inspection is being conducted by the NGU security service, law enforcement agencies, and the Military Ombudsman's Office. The Office also expects cooperation with the SBU.