The National Guard will review its approach to placing temporary deployment sites in major cities. It also plans to improve medical examinations for service personnel arriving at units through mobilisation.
National Guard Commander Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko reported this following a meeting with heads of territorial directorates, corps commanders and unit commanders.
One of the main topics of the meeting was the incident that occurred on 2 November in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region. Additional decisions will be taken based on the results of an internal investigation. If negligence by officials is identified, appropriate measures will be applied to them, Pivnenko said.
Participants also discussed accommodation conditions for mobilised troops, their training and countering disinformation. Separately, they raised the issue of medical care and treatment for service personnel returning after unauthorised absence from their unit.
"Commanders bear personal responsibility not only for carrying out combat missions, but also for the people under their command," the commander stressed.
He added that compliance with the law, military discipline, service members’ rights and respect for human dignity are mandatory at every stage of service.
"At the same time, I am once again appealing to society. Such provocations play into the enemy’s hands. The National Guard is a big family. And I will not allow guardsmen to be insulted or humiliated. Ukrainian society must respect every defender of Ukraine, male and female, and treat people in military uniform with respect," Pivnenko added.
What is known about the incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka?
- Unrest broke out in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near a house where a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine was stationed. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, and later NGU Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko also came. The building contained mobilised personnel and four service members who had returned after unauthorised absence from their unit. Those four people had injuries and it was decided to take them to hospital for examination. When speaking to journalists, the men who were in the building said that no violence had been used against them.
- This was preceded by a call to the police from staff of a private ambulance service, who reported that they were being obstructed from accessing a citizen. Upon arrival, police established that the incident was taking place near a private house where service members of one of the National Guard’s units were located.
- Civilians began gathering outside the building, demanding that the mobilised service members on the premises be handed over to them. After being refused, they attempted to enter without authorisation.
- The 1st NGU Corps "Azov" commented on the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. The command condemned unlawful actions against NGU service members, while also warning citizens against obstructing the work of military units.
- Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov arrived at the scene of the clashes in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and said that 14 people were in the building. He called the situation unacceptable, in particular because it hindered the hospitalisation of those in need of medical assistance. According to him, the very next day they are to establish why such facilities are operating and what is happening inside.
- The State Bureau of Investigation opened criminal proceedings over the clashes. Investigators are checking possible abuse of authority by military officials, the legality of the National Guard members’ presence in the house, and reports of possible coercion against them. They are also to establish the circumstances of the conflict and provide a legal assessment of the actions of all participants.
- Military Ombudswoman Olha Reshetylova said that among the service members at the deployment site were defenders of Mariupol and "Azovstal" who had been held in Russian captivity and returned to service. She stressed that the inspection must determine whether service members’ rights were observed, including those who returned after unauthorised absence from their unit and new recruits.
- At the same time, the NGU Corps "Khartiia" said Russia was trying to use such conflicts to discredit the military and split Ukrainian society.
- Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov reported that a woman who posed as an ambulance medic and claimed people were being tortured in a basement had been detained. According to him, she had bought an ambulance vehicle in advance and, together with the driver, reconnoitred the area three days before the incident.