A soldier from the Odessa TCC struck a 13-year-old boy: faces up to 5 years

The Odessa regional police are investigating an incident in which a serviceman from a district Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TCC) struck a 13-year-old boy.

Law enforcement officers discovered video of the confrontation on social media, according to RBC-Ukraine citing the Odessa regional police.

The footage shows the serviceman grabbing the teenager by his clothing and striking him. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred several days ago in the Khadzhybeisky district of Odessa. The identities of both individuals involved have been established.

Investigators entered the information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under Part 2 of Article 126 — concerning battery and torture. The serviceman could face up to five years in prison for such a crime.

Alongside the police investigation, the Odessa regional TCC has launched an internal inquiry into the incident. The agency stated that any manifestations of violence by servicemen are unacceptable and called on the public not to draw premature conclusions before the inquiry is completed.