Border guards beat a communications systems company employee in Zakarpattia, suspecting an attempt to flee Ukraine

The Ukrainian communications systems company Himera has reported that border guards in the Zakarpattia region allegedly beat a 23-year-old employee who had come for a vacation, accusing him of attempting to flee the country.

The statement was posted on Facebook.

The incident reportedly took place on September 27 at the “Stuzhytsia” border post. The young employee and his friends were heading to a glamping site (luxury camping) in the village of Vyshka, Zakarpattia Oblast, when they encountered the border guards. He was accused of attempting to illegally cross the border. The employee denied these accusations and “refused to write an explanation under dictation” from the border guards. In response, he was handcuffed, had his phone confiscated, was denied access to a lawyer, and sustained injuries: soft tissue bruising on his head and a bruise on his left elbow, as confirmed by a medical report.

In addition to physical injuries, the employee reportedly suffered emotional trauma due to psychological pressure and threats.

The company has demanded an immediate and objective investigation into the abuse of power by the State Border Guard Service officials and the prosecution of those responsible.

Incidents involving law enforcement and military conscription officials detaining men in border regions are reportedly common. In a previous case, media reported a resident of Kolomyia who said her husband was conscripted into the army despite having an exemption from “Ukrzaliznytsia,” which the recruitment center staff allegedly tore up and discarded.

In another recent incident, a lawyer specializing in military and conscription cases reported being detained by the police and handed over to military officials, who reportedly held him for about a week at a territorial recruitment center in Uzhhorod.