National Guard of Ukraine to make additional decisions following investigation into situation in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, Pivnenko says

Pivnenko announces review after Petropavlivska Borshchahivka incident

National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko held a conference call on the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. Additional decisions will be made based on the findings of an internal investigation, and officials found responsible will be held accountable. The National Guard of Ukraine will also review the location of temporary deployment sites in major cities, accommodation and medical examination arrangements for mobilised personnel, and treatment for service members returning after being absent without leave (AWOL).

He wrote this on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

Internal investigation and review of unit deployment locations

Specifically, Pivnenko said he had held a conference call with the heads of territorial directorates, corps commanders and commanders of directly subordinate military units.

The main focus was on analysing the situation that unfolded on November 2 in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region, as well as organising work with service members arriving at National Guard units through mobilisation, personnel accommodation and quality training, and readiness to act judiciously in the face of disinformation and information attacks.

Changes to medical examinations for mobilised personnel and treatment following AWOL

According to Pivnenko, the meeting addressed the need to improve the procedure for medical examinations of mobilised service members arriving at the National Guard.

The provision of medical care and treatment for service members returning after being absent without leave (AWOL) was considered separately.

"We will make all necessary additional decisions based on the findings of the internal investigation into the situation in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. If signs of negligence by officials in the performance of their duties are identified, we will make the appropriate decisions.

We will also review our approach to locating temporary deployment sites in major cities," the commander stressed.

Commanders’ responsibility and appeal to the public

"I want to stress once again: commanders bear personal responsibility not only for carrying out combat missions but also for the people under their command. Compliance with the law, military discipline, service members’ rights, and respect for human dignity are mandatory at every stage of military service. At the same time, I once again appeal to the public. Such provocations play into the enemy’s hands. The National Guard is one big family. And I will not allow its members to be insulted or humiliated. Ukrainian society must respect every man and woman defending Ukraine and treat people in military uniform with respect. We are fighting for our future, for the survival of the Ukrainian nation. And every conscientious Ukrainian must contribute to our shared victory in this historic struggle," Pivnenko concluded.

Situation in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka

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 centre 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.
Budanov, who visited the scene of the clashes the previous day, said on November 3 that measures were being developed to ensure an appropriate response to the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka and prevent provocations.
On November 3, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) said it had identified approximately 100 people who were present at the scene of the unrest on November 2 in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in the Kyiv region and actively participated in organising it.

The SBU opened criminal proceedings.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) opened a case into military personnel exceeding their authority or official powers.