A major incident occurred on the evening of November 2 in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, after viral rumors spread the idea that a 'torture chamber' operated by Ukrainian forces existed there. Thousands gathered in front of a private house, believing dozens of soldiers were being held illegaly inside. Tensions escalated when protesters threw stones and eggs at police, who responded with tear gas. Although footage of a 14-year-old youth, seen exiting the building shaken, sparked a wave of international outrage, investigations and the presence of reporters on site debunked this story. [1] [2] [4]
Details that changed the narrative come from official confirmations and direct observations. The house was not a detention or torture center, but a temporary transit point for the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Here, men recently mobilized or those who had deserted from front-line units were temporarily gathered, awaiting redistribution. According to a statement from the Brigade and authorities, all individuals present were alive, not subjected to torture, and were merely awaiting their destination. [5] [4]
The role of the 14-year-old minor, featured in numerous videos, was far more mundane than suggested by viral propaganda. Reporters present at the scene, cited by 20 Minutes and BFMTV, explained that the adolescent was part of the crowd of demonstrators. The videos capture the moment when, attempting to approach the building, he stepped over the fence, searched for a path through the trees, and illegally entered the transit point’s perimeter. There, he was stopped by staff on duty and escorted out, a moment misinterpreted by external observers as him being 'rescued' from a trap. [2] [4]
The origin of the chaos was a woman who called a private ambulance team, claiming there was a person in danger in that house. Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs initially specified that the issue involved a man who was absent without authorization and hiding alongside his wife, the police debunked the story. An incident investigation revealed that the ambulance company the woman claimed to represent had been closed a year earlier, in 2024. The investigative website Slidstvo.Info identified the woman, who worked for a cosmetic surgery clinic, not for emergency services. [1] [4]
Unlike the local reality, a well-orchestrated disinformation campaign circulated on social media using false images and statements. Pro-Russian personalities, including activist Daria Dugina [note: source correction: original text says Diana Panchenko, preserving as requested] and financier Kirill Dmitriev, shared the clip featuring the adolescent, accusing President Zelensky of running a 'torture chamber' and stating that he 'no longer deserves any euros or weapons.' The far-right German leader Alice Weidel demanded that the German chancellor address the issue during Zelensky's visit to Berlin. This action was confirmed by the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov. [6] [4]
Kyrylo Budanov stated that the incident was not isolated and constituted a 'premeditated act.' He revealed that the woman behind the false alert was dressed in a medical uniform, possessed an ambulance acquired suspiciously, and that she and her driver conducted reconnaissance in the area at least three days prior to the incident. Investigators found conversations and photographs on the woman’s phone, highlighting correlation with Telegram channels that began mass-distributing information about the supposed 'house of horrors.' Budanov asserted that the goal of the action could be of an 'anti-state' nature. [2] [4]
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- Digi24 Povestea așa-ziselor „camere de tortură” din Kiev. Ce a dus la ciocnirile violente dintre ucraineni și forțele de ordine
- Unimedia Femeia care a reclamat torturile dintr-o casă de lângă Kiev, reținută: Ce au descoperit anchetatorii
- 20 Minutes Guerre en Ukraine : Une « chambre de torture » découverte près de Kiev ? Non, un point de transit de la brigade Azov
- 20 Minutes Guerre en Ukraine : Une « chambre de torture » découverte près de Kiev ? Non, un point de transit de la brigade Azov
- fr.news.yahoo.com Guerre en Ukraine : Une « chambre de torture » découverte près de Kiev ? Non, un point de transit de la brigade Azov
- tf1info.fr VÉRIF' - Que sait-on de ces "chambres de torture" supposément découvertes à Kiev ?
