Clashes and gunfire near Kyiv: The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka involving National Guard personnel

The State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) has launched criminal proceedings in connection with the high-profile events that took place on 2 November 2026 in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv Oblast.

The case has 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 during a state of martial law).

A dispute outside the house and scuffles

According to preliminary information from the investigators, the events centred on a private house that was being used to temporarily accommodate members of the Ukrainian National Guard who had returned after leaving their military unit without authorisation (AWOL).

Following reports on social media and messaging apps alleging the unlawful detention and forced confinement of military personnel, outraged members of the public and relatives gathered outside the building. The situation quickly escalated and turned into mass clashes. Shots were fired during the conflict, and National Police service vehicles were damaged.

Joint inspection and assessment of housing conditions

Staff from the State Bureau of Investigation immediately travelled to the scene. The investigation is being conducted in close cooperation with representatives of the Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence Affairs in the Central Region, the National Police and the Office of the Military Ombudsman, and with the full support of the leadership of the National Guard of Ukraine.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers will check:

• the legality of the actions and powers of the officials responsible for the maintenance of military personnel;
• the actual conditions under which service personnel are housed and any instances of physical or psychological coercion to which they may be subjected;
• the causes, chronology and direct participants in the violent clash with the police.

A call for objectivity

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) emphasises that a great deal of contradictory information and manipulative speculation is circulating regarding the incident in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, none of which has been confirmed at this stage. The Bureau calls on the media and the public to refrain from drawing premature conclusions until the official investigations have been completed.

An official legal assessment of the actions of all those involved in the incident will be made solely on the basis of the evidence gathered. The Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence in the Central Region is in charge of the proceedings in this case.

In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person shall be presumed innocent of any criminal offence and shall not be subject to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.

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