TCC servicemen detained in Rivne for beating a man during mobilization activities

On September 23, three servicemen from a territorial recruitment and social support center were detained by police in Rivne after they smashed a car window, sprayed gas in a man’s face, and beat him.

This was reported by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Defense of the Western Region.

The incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. on Mlinivska Street during mobilization activities. According to investigators, a notification team from the Rivne Regional OMTCC and SP attempted to check the military registration documents of a 40-year-old local resident who had violated military registration rules. A dispute broke out during the check: the servicemen began using obscene language, blocked traffic, and started a brawl.

The prosecutor’s office established that the servicemen smashed the man’s car window, sprayed a gas canister in his face, then attempted to forcibly pull him from the vehicle, and when he resisted — beat him. Some of the servicemen were in military uniform, but other individuals in civilian clothing also joined in the incident.

The victim was diagnosed with a closed traumatic brain injury, a contusion wound and hematomas to the head, as well as chemical burns to the eyes.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — hooliganism under aggravating circumstances.

The article carries a sentence of 3 to 7 years’ imprisonment. The detainees are being held in a pretrial detention facility. The question of formally notifying them of suspicion is being resolved. Law enforcement officers are continuing to identify all participants in the incident and determine the role of each.

The Rivne Regional TCC and SP confirmed the incident on its Facebook account, noting that the detention was carried out by the National Police of Ukraine.

“Everyone whose actions discredit military service will be held accountable in accordance with the procedure established by law. No rank or position grants the right to break the law. Law enforcement agencies will provide a legal assessment of the detainees’ actions, and the final decision will be made by a court. We ask the public and the media to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely on official sources until the investigation is complete,” the Rivne OTCC and SP said in a statement.

The leadership of the territorial center also stated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy toward violations of the law by personnel and its full cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the investigation.