Torture near Kiev? Shocking reports and riots

"On November 2, unconfirmed information began to circulate on social networks regarding alleged torture of soldiers at the temporary location of the military unit," the press service of the 1st "Azov" Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine reported in the Telegram messenger.

Earlier, the Suspilne website reported that on Monday, about a hundred people gathered in front of a private house in Petropavlivskaya Borshchahivka.

"Some of those present identified themselves as relatives of men detained in this building. They claimed that there were mobilized soldiers there who were being tortured, money was demanded from their families, and doctors were not allowed inside," the website reported.

In response to these reports, "Azov" informed that the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Piwnenko, arrived at the scene of the incident, personally showed the relatives of some servicemen around the facility and presented the conditions in which mobilized soldiers and soldiers detained after voluntarily leaving the unit are staying - waiting for assignment to specific formations and further service.

The statement said that following reports of alleged torture spread on the Internet, civilians began to gather near the military base, demanding the release of mobilized soldiers. When the participants of the demonstration were refused, they began to obstruct the operation of the base and tried to get inside without permission, the army said.

"Four soldiers detained after voluntarily leaving a military unit were found to have injuries, so they were sent to hospital for examination," Azov reported.

It was noted that the National Guard command, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, supervised the investigation into this case.

If reports of unlawful acts of violence on the premises of a military unit are confirmed, the perpetrators will receive the punishment they deserve, the statement assured.

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivsky, confirmed that General Piwnenko and his deputies arrived in Petropavlivskaya Borshchahivka to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

"This building was used by soldiers of one of the units of the National Guard of Ukraine. (...) On the same day, I ordered the initiation of an official investigation, within which all information will be verified, in particular regarding the conditions of the soldiers' stay," Vyhivsky wrote in the Telegram messenger.

He also announced that the families of Ukrainian National Guard soldiers who were inside the building were allowed to contact their loved ones. He added that doctors and several representatives of civil society were also allowed to enter the facility.