Prokopenko on events in Borshchahivka: This plays into Russia’s hands and discredits Ukrainian Armed Forces. VIDEO

Brigadier General Denys Prokopenko, commander of the ‘Azov’ military group, has stated that the media campaign surrounding the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region is attempting to discredit the Ukrainian military and is only playing into Russia’s hands.

He made these remarks on his Facebook page, according to Censor.NET.

Condemnation of the clashes

According to Prokopenko, all the corps’ battalions, regiments and brigades are on the front line and carrying out combat missions. He himself, he said, is also constantly on the front line alongside the troops.

At the same time, Prokopenko accused certain individuals behind the lines of sabotage and spreading information which, in his view, discredits the Ukrainian military. He emphasises that Russia is keen to sow division within Ukrainian society and the armed forces, as well as to destabilise the situation in the country.

"What is happening in the information sphere regarding the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka meets all these Russian objectives," stated Redis.

He emphasised that in the context of a full-scale war, Ukrainians must either defend the country on the front line or support the troops behind the lines, rather than staging provocations.

"Our state is waging a difficult and bloody war for its very existence. In this situation, we must either defend the country on the front line or support the front from the rear, rather than staging provocations and playing into the enemy’s hands," emphasised the commander of the "Azov" military group.

He also stated that "Azov" would continue to defend Ukraine, despite attempts to discredit the unit.

What led up to this?

Earlier, reports circulated online claiming that on 2 November, in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv, allegedly armed men were holding around 40 hostages in the basement of one of the houses – some of whom were in a serious condition – and were preventing medics from reaching them.
According to the Kyiv Regional Police, they were contacted by staff from a private ambulance service who had been prevented from reaching one person.
The police stated that reports claiming people were being unlawfully detained in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and that one of them had died were untrue.
The Commander of the National Guard, Oleksandr Pivnenko, confirmed that National Guard servicemen were in the house after leaving their unit without authorisation, and that four of them required medical attention and were taken to hospital.
Pivnenko also explained that the private house was being used as a temporary accommodation facility for National Guard personnel. Mobilised personnel arrived there, underwent registration and checks, after which they were sent to a training centre.
When asked about a man with a broken spine, National Guard press officer Ruslan Muzychuk replied that this was not true: all four had walked to the ambulance under their own steam.
The Office of the Military Ombudsman was present at the scene in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka alongside the command of the National Guard of Ukraine. An investigation has been ordered.
The National Guard will launch an internal investigation into this incident.
Tensions remained high well into the night. People threw stones at the building’s windows, set off smoke bombs and firecrackers, damaged the building’s brick wall, smashed the bus and attempted to overturn it.
The Head of the President’s Office, Kyrylo Budanov, arrived at the scene in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region.
Footage circulated on social media showing a teenage boy being led out of the building, wrapped in a thermal blanket. Budanov spoke to him personally — the boy said he was 14 years old and had come to the scene with his friends. The Head of the Presidential Office rang the boy’s sister to ask her to collect him.
However, at around 10.30 pm, a group of people arrived at the scene and began pushing those present aside. A mass brawl broke out, and the sound of gunshots was heard, according to media reports. There were casualties amongst those present, and Budanov urged them to contact the police.