Unrest near house with National Guard troops in Kyiv region; Azov issues explanation

Unrest broke out on 2 November near a private house in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv region, where troops of a National Guard unit of Ukraine are stationed. People gathered after unverified information spread on social media about the alleged torture of servicemen. National Guard commander Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko and Ukraine's National Police leadership arrived at the scene. The incident touches on how mobilized soldiers and those who left their units without permission are housed in Ukraine during the war.

What Azov said

The 1st Corps of the National Guard, "Azov", says the reports concern the temporary deployment site of military unit 3121. According to the corps, civilians began gathering near the military compound and demanded that mobilized soldiers inside be handed over. After being refused, they blocked the compound's operations and tried to enter without authorization.

The corps says Pivnenko let relatives of some servicemen onto the premises and showed them the conditions in which mobilized troops and those detained after going absent without leave (AWOL) are held while awaiting assignment to units. Four of the servicemen detained after going AWOL had injuries and were sent to hospital for examination.

National Guard command, working with law enforcement, has taken the investigation under its control. If unlawful violence is established, those responsible will be punished. Azov's command condemns unlawful actions against servicemen, while warning citizens not to obstruct military units and urging them to trust official statements.

Review

Military ombudsman Olha Reshetylova said a review has been ordered to establish all the circumstances.