The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, responded to reports of abuse of servicemen in the 211th pontoon-bridge brigade of the Support Forces. In this regard, an investigation has been initiated. About this informs General Staff of the Armed Forces.
According to the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, a commission of the Military Law and Order Service was sent to the unit to investigate the situation. During the inspection, the brigade commander was temporarily removed from duty.
The General Staff reminded that some of the specified facts were already the subject of an official inspection in September 2024. According to its results, criminal proceedings were initiated.
The 211th pontoon-bridge brigade was created in April 2022, and its commander was Colonel Oleg Poberezhniuk. It is reported that persons related to Poberezhniuk appeared in the unit. In particular, his godfather Valery Pastukh assumed the post of deputy commander, while Pastukh’s son and Poberezhnyuk’s godson Vladyslav received the post of platoon commander.
Later it became known that Vladyslav Pastukh used physical violence against subordinates and demanded money from them. In addition, Colonel Poberezhniuk himself sent four soldiers to build his private house in Khmelnytskyi. Despite the revelation of these facts, no liability has yet been applied.
The investigation is ongoing and the results of the inspection may become the basis for further legal action.
