The Security Service of Ukraine has detained three suspected organisers of the unrest in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka on 2 November and served them with notices of suspicion.
This was reported by the SBU.
According to the case materials, one of the detained women, a resident of Kyiv Region, agreed, in return for payment, to organise the removal of a serviceman of the National Guard of Ukraine beyond the boundaries of the unit’s deployment site.
Investigators established that on 30 October the woman received the relevant request from another resident of the capital region. The serviceman was to be taken out under the guise of providing emergency medical assistance.
To do this, the suspect posed as a medic and enlisted an acquaintance who, for money, agreed to play the role of a paramedic. They also used a private car that has no connection to any medical institution in Ukraine.
According to the SBU, on the eve of the unrest the man carried out reconnaissance near the National Guard’s temporary location. And on 2 November the pseudo-medic began spreading manipulative information on social media to generate public outcry and incite people to disorder.
As a result, near the unit’s deployment site clashes broke out and the lawful activities of the Defence Forces were obstructed. During an inspection of one suspect’s phone, law enforcement officers found correspondence with third parties discussing scenarios for unauthorised actions against Ukrainian servicemen.
In addition, investigators detained another active participant in the clashes. According to law enforcement, she called for the National Guard bus to be blocked and damaged.
The three detainees were served with notices of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 1 of Article 114-1 — obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a special period;
- Part 2 of Article 114-2 — unauthorised dissemination of information about the movement, relocation or deployment of Ukrainian military formations under martial law.
At present, the SBU has submitted a motion to the court seeking a preventive measure for the suspects in the form of remand in custody. Law enforcement also plan to serve a notice of suspicion on the active participant in the unrest and identify others involved in the provocations.
Under the articles cited, the suspects face up to eight years’ imprisonment. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
Context
- In the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, unrest broke out near a building where a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine is based. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, and later the NGU Commander, Oleksandr Pivnenko, also came. The building contained mobilised personnel and four servicemen 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 in the building said that no violence had been used against them.
- This was preceded by a police call 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 servicemen from one of the National Guard units were located.
- Civilians began gathering near the building, demanding that the mobilised servicemen on the premises be handed over to them. After being refused, they attempted to enter without authorisation.
- The 1st Corps of the NGU “Azov” commented on the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. The command condemned unlawful actions against NGU servicemen, while also warning citizens against obstructing the work of military units.
- The 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 obstructed the hospitalisation of those in need of medical assistance. He said that the next day they were to clarify why such facilities are operating and what is happening inside.
- The SBI opened criminal proceedings over the clashes. Investigators are examining 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 servicemen 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 review must determine whether servicemen’s rights were respected, including those who returned after unauthorised absence and new recruits.
- At the same time, the NGU “Khartiia” Corps said Russia is trying to use such conflicts to discredit the military and split Ukrainian society.