In Ternopil, the court failed to choose a preventive measure for the soldiers detained for kidnapping and torturing people

The Ternopil court was unable to determine a preventive measure for three of the six Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) servicemen detained on charges of kidnapping and torturing people.

This was reported by local media.

During the court hearing, three of the six suspects requested the replacement of their state-appointed lawyer — their case was therefore postponed until tomorrow. The remaining three were ordered to be held in custody as a preventive measure.

According to police reports, the servicemen, who had been assigned by the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRSSC) to conduct mobilization activities, committed numerous unlawful acts: they kidnapped and beat civilians, extorting money or valuable property. In one instance, they allegedly took a 27-year-old man’s KIA car for personal use.

The suspects also used force against a serving member of the Armed Forces who was undergoing medical treatment, abducted him, beat him, and — threatening him with a weapon — demanded 50,000 hryvnias for his release.

Another Ternopil resident was forcibly taken outside the city, where the suspects used a gas canister against him. The victim was stripped, doused with a flammable liquid, and forced to run in front of a car. Later, he was beaten again and held in inhumane conditions for three days.

According to Serhii Ziubanienko, head of the Ternopil Regional National Police, law enforcement officers are working with the victims and believe that the accused may have had other victims as well.

Earlier, the Ternopil Regional TRSSC stated that it was involving units with combat experience in mobilization activities.

Soon after, local activists reported lawlessness and abuses allegedly committed by servicemen of the 3rd Assault Brigade, who had been assigned to cooperate with the TRSSC.