News of events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka was spread via TikTok, - presidential advisor Lytvyn

Lytvyn says that the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka were provoked by TikTok

Dmytro Lytvyn, the Ukrainian president’s communications adviser, is convinced that live streams and high user activity on TikTok were the key catalysts for the recent events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region.

He made this statement to reporters on Wednesday, according to Censor.NET, citing "Interfax-Ukraine."

The Role of Social Media

"An analysis of the situation on the ground shows that live streams and activity on TikTok had the greatest impact on how events unfolded, and that is the main platform for the crowd that was causing a ruckus there," said Lytvyn.

He noted that Telegram channels had published a variety of information about the situation—including factual reports, misinformation, and accurate details about those involved in the events.

"But they really did stir up the crowd and spread disinformation, mainly through TikTok. And this is precisely an example of the role that TikTok plays—and not just in our country," Litvin said.

The Situation in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka

Earlier, reports circulated online claiming that on November 2, in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv, armed men were allegedly holding about 40 hostages in the basement of one of the houses—some of whom were in serious condition—and were preventing medical personnel from reaching them.
According to the Kyiv Regional Police, they were contacted by employees of a private ambulance service who were prevented from approaching a person.
The police reported that reports claiming people are being illegally detained in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and that one of them has died are untrue.
National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko confirmed that National Guard soldiers were in the building after leaving their unit without permission, and that four of them required medical attention and were taken to the hospital.
Pivnenko also said that the private home was used as a temporary housing facility for National Guard servicemembers. Mobilized personnel would arrive there, go through registration and screening, and then be sent to a training center.
When asked about the man with a broken spine, National Guard press officer Ruslan Muzychuk replied that this was not true: all four made it to the ambulance on their own two feet.
The Office of the Military Ombudsman was on 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.
As the night wore on, tensions did not subside. People threw rocks at the building’s windows, set off smoke bombs and firecrackers, damaged the building’s brick wall, smashed the bus, and tried to overturn it.
The head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, arrived at the scene in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region.
Footage of a teenage boy being led out of the building, wrapped in a thermal blanket, went viral on social media. Budanov spoke with 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 called the boy’s sister so she could pick him up.
However, at around 10:30 p.m., a group of people arrived at the scene and began pushing those present. A massive brawl broke out, and gunshots were heard, according to media reports. Some of those present were injured, and Budanov urged them to contact the police.
Budanov, who had visited the site of the clashes the day before, announced on November 3 that solutions had been developed to ensure an appropriate response to the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and to prevent provocations.
On November 3, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it had identified and located approximately 100 individuals who were present at the scene of the riots on November 2 in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region and actively participated in organizing them.
The SSU has opened criminal investigations in three separate cases.
The State Bureau of Investigation opened a case regarding military personnel's abuse of power or official authority.