Unrest near Kyiv over viral allegations: SBU detains participants

What happened in Petropavlivska Borschahivka

On Monday, November 2, in Petropavlivska Borschahivka, a suburb of Kyiv, about 100 people gathered outside a private house after claims circulated on social media that dozens of men were being held against their will in its basement. Some posts called the building a 'house of horrors' and alleged the torture of servicemen. As Euronews reported, citing the public broadcaster Suspilne, it later emerged that the house was used to house National Guard servicemen, including those who had returned after leaving their units without authorization.

Clashes and the authorities' response

The confrontation escalated into clashes with law enforcement: gunshots were heard and police vehicles were damaged, according to the State Bureau of Investigation. In the evening, National Guard commander Oleksandr Pivnenko and Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov arrived at the scene. On Tuesday, Budanov stated that 'it is already reliably known that yesterday's events did not happen without outside influence,' promising to identify and punish those behind it. SBU Deputy Head Ivan Rudnytskyi said the service had identified about 100 active participants in the unrest, searches are being conducted at their addresses, and detentions and charges are being considered; at least one woman has been detained.

Two lines of investigation

According to the investigation's version, the unrest was organized to abduct a National Guard serviceman who had left his unit without authorization and was later detained. The SBU opened proceedings on obstructing the lawful activities of the armed forces and disclosing information about military facilities, incorporating the mass unrest case into it. At the same time, the SBI is investigating possible abuses by the military: the conditions in which the servicemen were housed, allegations of coercion, and the conduct of those involved in the confrontation. Interior Minister Ivan Vyhovskyi rejected accusations that the house was used as a 'torture chamber.'

The dubious 'nurse' and open questions

An investigation by Slidstvo.Info showed that the woman who arrived in an ambulance and identified herself as a medical worker referred to the Med-Prestige clinic, which ceased operations in 2023; its owner said the ambulance was sold in 2024 on the condition that its branding be removed. The Office of the Military Ombudsman is checking how the servicemen ended up in the house, including issues of medical examinations and fitness for service; four of them have been hospitalized. The SBI warned against spreading contradictory versions without sufficient evidence, while the General Staff called for an impartial investigation, emphasizing that the return of those who left their units without authorization must take place in accordance with the law and with respect for their dignity. The circumstances of the unrest and the allegations regarding the treatment of servicemen remain under investigation.