Ukraine's Interior Ministry calls reports of 'torture chamber' near Kyiv a fake

Ukraine's Interior Minister Ivan Vyhovsky has dismissed reports of an alleged "torture chamber" and deaths at a temporary National Guard of Ukraine deployment site in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv, calling the claims a fake and a provocation, the website infohub.kz reports.

According to RBC-Ukraine, the claims about a "torture chamber" and deaths were spread by a woman who identified herself as a medic. She and an ambulance driver have already been detained, the head of Ukraine's Interior Ministry said.

Vyhovsky described the events in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka as a "staged situation."

"And it began with this pseudo-medic arriving in a vehicle bearing an emergency medical aid chevron. She emotionally showed a stream, many people saw it and people began gathering there," he said during a briefing.

The minister believes the woman may have had a criminal intent to take a serviceman away from the scene as an unauthorized absence without leave (AWOL).

Ukraine's Interior Minister said four servicemen were first led out of the building, but the crowd then demanded the release of 17 more military personnel who were also in the building and preparing to be sent for training.

According to the minister, to avoid endangering the servicemen, it was decided to take them out by bus and leave the area. However, those present blocked the vehicle's departure and could have harmed those inside.

He clarified that these servicemen were forced to get off the bus and return to the National Guard of Ukraine's location.

The building was lawfully leased by the National Guard, the minister stressed.

According to DW, a criminal case has been opened after clashes between local residents and National Guard servicemen in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv.

"As part of the criminal proceedings, investigators will check the legality of the actions of all those involved. In particular, they will establish the circumstances and conditions under which the servicemen were in the house, check reports of possible coercion against them, and also determine the causes and circumstances of the conflict," the State Bureau of Investigation said.

We previously reported that clashes broke out in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv after reports of possible detention of servicemen.