What happened near Kyiv as viral allegations sparked unrest outside National Guard building

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) stated it has identified around 100 people who actively participated in unrest outside a building used by the National Guard near Kyiv, which investigators suspect was organised to abduct a serviceman who had left his unit without authorisation. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Deputy SBU chief Ivan Rudnytskyi said on Tuesday that searches were being carried out at some of their homes and that investigators were considering detentions and criminal charges. At least one woman has been detained. The unrest began on Monday, 2 November, in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, a suburb of Kyiv, where around 100 people gathered outside a private house, according to Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster, following claims on social media that dozens of men were being held against their will in its basement. Some posts described the building as a “house of horror”, alleging that servicemen were being tortured inside. It later emerged that the building was being used to accommodate National Guard servicemen, including those who had returned after leaving their military units without authorisation. The confrontation escalated into clashes with law enforcement officers. Shots were heard and police vehicles were damaged, according to Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation. Senior officials, including National Guard commander Oleksandr Pivnenko and Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov arrived at the scene on Monday evening. Budanov said on Tuesday that it was “already reliably known that yesterday's events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka did not occur without influence”. “The specific individuals and initiators of these events will undoubtedly be identified and punished,” he said, adding that the Prosecutor General's Office and relevant authorities had launched an investigation. Questions surrounding the ambulance A woman who arrived in an ambulance and presented herself as a medical professional was among those spreading the allegations. An investigation by Ukrainian outlet Slidstvo.Info found that the Med-Prestige clinic, which the woman claimed to represent, had ceased operations in 2023. Its owner told the outlet that the ambulance used at the scene had been sold in 2024, with the buyers required to remove the company's branding. According to the deputy SBU chief, investigators believe the unrest was deliberately organised to abduct a National Guard serviceman who had previously left his unit without authorisation and was subsequently detained. The SBU has opened criminal proceedings concerning obstruction of the lawful activities of the armed forces and unauthorised disclosure of information about military locations. A separate investigation into mass unrest, initially handled by the National Police, has also been incorporated into the proceedings. Separate investigation into possible military misconduct Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi rejected allegations that the property had been used as a torture facility. Separately, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation has opened criminal proceedings into possible abuse of authority by military officials. Investigators are examining the conditions in which servicemen were accommodated, allegations of coercion and the conduct of those involved in the confrontation. The Office of the Military Ombudsman is also examining how servicemen came to be housed at the property, including questions surrounding their medical examinations and fitness for service. Four servicemen were taken to hospital. The State Bureau of Investigation warned that conflicting accounts of the incident were circulating, some without sufficient evidence, and said all allegations of possible human rights violations would be examined. Ukraine's General Staff called for an impartial investigation, stressing that the state must respond to possible misconduct by military personnel while also protecting servicemen from threats and unlawful actions. It also emphasised that the return of servicemen who have left their units without authorisation must be handled in accordance with the law and with respect for human dignity. Both the circumstances of the unrest and the allegations concerning the treatment of servicemen remain under investigation.