SBI has opened inquiry into events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka: it will examine conditions under which soldiers are being held. VIDEO

The State Bureau of Investigations has launched a criminal investigation into the events that took place on 2 November 2026 in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv Oblast.

This was reported by Censor.NET, citing the SBI’s press office.

Details of the conflict and the criminal case

As noted, the proceedings have been opened under Part 5 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official authority by a military officer).

According to available information, the events unfolded near a private house that was being used to temporarily accommodate servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine who had been returned after leaving their military unit without authorisation (AWOL).

After reports of the alleged unlawful detention of the servicemen were shared on social media, members of the public gathered near the house. The conflict escalated into clashes, during which shots were fired and police vehicles were damaged.

Staff from the State Bureau of Investigation immediately went to the scene. They worked alongside representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the National Police and the Military Ombudsman’s Office, with the full support of the National Guard of Ukraine.

What exactly will the State Bureau of Investigation’s investigators be looking into?

As part of the criminal proceedings, investigators will examine the legality of the actions of all those involved. In particular, they will establish the circumstances and conditions under which the servicemen were present in the house, investigate reports of possible coercion against them, and ascertain the causes and course of the conflict.

The State Bureau of Investigation notes that numerous reports are circulating regarding the incident, containing various, and at times contradictory, accounts of what happened. Some of these claims currently lack proper substantiation.

That is precisely why it is important to thoroughly investigate all the circumstances, establish the sequence of events, and distinguish reliable information from speculation and unverified reports.

The State Bureau of Investigation assures that it will ensure a full, objective and impartial investigation. All reports of possible human rights violations will be properly investigated. A legal assessment of the actions of those involved in the incident will be made solely on the basis of established facts and evidence gathered.

A call to the media and the public not to jump to conclusions

"We urge the public and media representatives to refrain from jumping to conclusions and to rely on official statements from the competent authorities. The State Bureau of Investigation will keep the public informed about the progress and results of the investigation to the extent permitted by law," the Bureau added.

What led up to this?

Earlier, reports circulated online claiming that on 2 November, in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv, armed men were allegedly 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 were 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 come and 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.