Ukraine rocked by military abuse scandal: Top brass under scrutiny
There is a scandal in Ukraine. Journalists from Ukrainska Pravda have uncovered irregularities in the 211th Bridge and Pontoon Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Commanders reportedly mistreated soldiers, among other issues. The country is in an uproar, and the Minister of Defence and the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have announced inspections within the unit.
The situation began with the disappearance of one of the soldiers. On July 8, 2024, at a permanent deployment point in the Ternopil region, the company commander of the 211th Bridge and Pontoon Brigade noticed the soldier's absence. Despite fruitless searches, officers discovered that the soldier had returned home. His mother reported that he was in poor condition, not eating, and abusing alcohol.
Soldier tied to a cross
In the attic of his home, a terrified, exhausted soldier was found. He claimed he had been threatened with death if he did not pay money to the chief of staff's son, Vladyslav Pastukh. The investigation revealed that Pastukh, a platoon commander, beat and intimidated soldiers, extorting money from them by threatening to transfer them to the infantry.
Significantly, the 211th Bridge and Pontoon Brigade was colloquially called "fat" by the soldiers. This unit did not participate in active combat, minimizing the risk of being wounded or killed on the front line.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, in the spring of 2024, official inspections confirmed cases of abuse and violations of the law, including concealing instances of alcohol consumption by soldiers in exchange for bribes. Vladyslav Pastukh, the chief of staff's son, was identified as the main perpetrator of mistreatment against subordinates. One soldier testified that he was tied to a wooden cross and brutally beaten.
Rather than punishing those at fault, the command transferred the victims and the officers involved in the investigations to other units. Vladyslav Pastukh was transferred, and his father compensated the victims. Despite the evidence, the prosecutor's office and the Investigative Bureau did not initiate criminal proceedings.
The court only imposed a fine of 34,000 hryvnias (approximately CAD 1,270) on Vladyslav's father, Lieutenant Colonel Valery Pastukh, for negligence and improper performance of duties, which allowed the violations to be concealed.
A wave of inspections follows shocking publication
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets commented on the reports published by Ukrainska Pravda. He immediately sent letters to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Military Law and Order Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, requesting verification of the information and an official investigation.
"Such a disgraceful phenomenon should not occur! Therefore, I am taking the matter under personal supervision and will inform the public about the results of the inspections," he stated.
The General Staff reported that, by decision of the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, a commission from the Military Law and Order Service was dispatched to the unit.
"For the duration of the inspection, the commander of the military unit was removed from his post," the staff said.
"By my order, the Main Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense will immediately begin work, which will verify the facts set forth in the article of Ukrainska Pravda regarding the situation in the 211th Pontoon-Bridge Brigade of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," informed Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
