On the evening of November 2, in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv, local residents gathered near a private house and, according to social media reports, attacked the building in whose basement, it was claimed, men who had arbitrarily left military units were being held. The incident caused widespread resonance and provoked a series of official reactions: from an internal investigation in the National Guard to criminal proceedings by the SBI. Military Ombudsman Olha Reshetilova, in a statement provided to RBC-Ukraine, revealed details that significantly alter the picture of what happened: among those inside the house were not only recruits, but also fighters with years of combat experience.
What Happened in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka
According to data appearing on social media, residents of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka surrounded a private house on the evening of November 2, in the basement of which, they claimed, servicemen who had arbitrarily left their units were being held. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko later confirmed that National Guard servicemen discovered after unauthorized departure from their place of service were indeed inside the house. The National Guard initiated an internal investigation into the circumstances of the incident, stating that those responsible will be held accountable based on its results.
Reshetilova: Mariupol and Azovstal Battle Veterans Among Those Detained
Military Ombudsman Olha Reshetilova, in a commentary for RBC-Ukraine, clarified the composition of those stationed at the location. According to her, besides mobilized personnel, there were servicemen inside the house who had gone through the battles for Mariupol and Azovstal, survived Russian captivity, and returned to service. "In addition to mobilized personnel, there were servicemen who went through the battles for Mariupol, Azovstal, Russian captivity, and returned to the ranks. To defend their state, civilian population, Ukrainian children. The population, however, thanked them with spits, eggs, broken windows, and cursing teenagers," the ombudsman stated. Her words indicate that the incident affected not only raw recruits, but also experienced fighters, which intensifies the public resonance of the event.
Investigation and Official Reactions
Reshetilova reported that the investigation will establish whether there were violations of procedures and stages of service regarding both recruits and soldiers who returned after unauthorized unit departure. Simultaneously, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets demanded an inspection of the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and condemned any attacks on servicemen in the rear. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) opened criminal proceedings over the incident. Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Budanov called the events unacceptable, and law enforcement agencies continue to establish all circumstances of the incident.
Trust Between Society and the Army: The Question Remains Open
The central thesis of Reshetilova's statement was an assessment of the incident's consequences for civil society. The ombudsman explicitly pointed out that what happened "undermines trust between society and the army." "Will we be able to restore trust between the military and society, which has once again been undermined by yesterday's events—that is an open question. Obviously, everyone needs to make an effort for this. Not everyone wants to do it," she summarized. These words capture a systemic problem: amid the ongoing war, episodes of aggression by civilians against servicemen in the rear create an additional gap between the army and the society it defends.
Context and Next Steps
The incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka became one of the most public cases of local population clashes with servicemen in the rear zone recently. The simultaneous reaction of the National Guard, SBI, ombudsmen, and the President's Office indicates that the authorities view the event as a precedent requiring not only law enforcement but also institutional response. The outcomes of the National Guard's internal audit and the SBI criminal proceedings, as well as the results of the inspection announced by Reshetilova, will determine whether additional measures will be taken to protect servicemen and restore trusting relations between the army and civil society.
