Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have launched broad criminal investigations following violent unrest outside a National Guard facility in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, a suburb of Kyiv. Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) investigators have identified approximately 100 individuals who participated in the demonstration on Monday, November 2, which officials suspect was deliberately orchestrated to abduct a detained National Guard serviceman who had left his unit without authorization.
Deputy SBU chief Ivan Rudnytskyi announced on Tuesday that officers are conducting searches at several participants' residences while preparing formal detentions and criminal charges. At least one woman has already been taken into custody. The disturbance began after viral social media posts claimed dozens of men were being held against their will in the basement of a private residence, with some online posts describing the location as a "house of horror" where soldiers were subjected to torture.
It subsequently emerged that the private house was being utilized to accommodate National Guard personnel, including troops who had returned after leaving their military units without authorization. The gathering outside the property rapidly escalated into active clashes with law enforcement officers. According to Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation, shots were heard during the confrontation and several police vehicles sustained damage.
The escalation prompted senior leaders to arrive at the scene on Monday evening, including National Guard commander Oleksandr Pivnenko and Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov. Speaking on Tuesday, Budanov stated that it was "already reliably known that yesterday's events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka did not occur without influence." He added that "the specific individuals and initiators of these events will undoubtedly be identified and punished," confirming that the Prosecutor General's Office and relevant security authorities have launched an investigation.
Among those promoting the torture allegations at the scene was a woman who arrived in an ambulance and presented herself as a medical professional. However, an investigative report by Ukrainian media outlet Slidstvo.Info revealed that Med-Prestige, the clinic she claimed to represent, ceased operations back in 2023. The former clinic owner told the outlet that the ambulance used at the scene had been sold in 2024 under the explicit condition that the buyers remove all corporate branding.
The SBU has initiated criminal proceedings centered on the obstruction of lawful activities of the armed forces and the unauthorized disclosure of information regarding military locations. A separate mass unrest inquiry initially opened by the National Police has now been incorporated into the SBU's proceedings. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi explicitly rejected claims that the property had been operated as a torture facility.
In addition to the investigation into the crowd's actions, the State Bureau of Investigation has opened criminal proceedings into possible abuse of authority by military officials. Investigators are examining the physical conditions in which servicemen were being accommodated, allegations of coercion, and the conduct of those involved during the confrontation. The Office of the Military Ombudsman is independently assessing how the servicemen came to be housed at the property, including questions surrounding their medical examinations and fitness for service. Four servicemen were taken to a hospital following the incident.
The State Bureau of Investigation warned that conflicting accounts of the confrontation continue to circulate without sufficient evidence, assuring that all allegations of potential human rights violations will be thoroughly examined. Ukraine's General Staff called for an impartial investigation, emphasizing that while the state must respond to possible misconduct by military personnel, it must also protect servicemen from external threats and unlawful actions. The General Staff further stressed that the return of servicemen who leave their units without authorization must be handled in accordance with the law and with respect for human dignity. Both the circumstances of the unrest and the allegations regarding military conduct remain under active investigation.
