Defense Minister Rustem Umerov ordered an official investigation on December 16 into allegations of abuse, extortion, and mistreatment of soldiers in Ukraine's 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade.
This follows a report by Ukrainska Pravda, which exposed a pattern of misconduct by unit commanders.
The media investigation detailed severe abuses, including beatings, extortion of money, and the cruel punishment of a soldier tied to a wooden cross. In response, Umerov labeled such actions as "unacceptable in the third year of the war" and called for accountability.
"My position as a minister is clear: all those responsible must be punished," Umerov declared.
The Defense Ministry’s main inspectorate will lead the investigation into the revelations.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Dmytro Lazutkin confirmed that prior to the report, no formal complaints had been received. He called the alleged behavior "shameful" but emphasized that such incidents are not widespread.
"The Ukrainian military consists of over a million service members. Various cases happen. We had no information about these cases," Lazutkin told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In the wake of the allegations, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi suspended the brigade’s commander, Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk, pending the results of the investigation.
The Ukrainska Pravda report also implicated now-Captain Vladyslav Pastukh, identified as a key perpetrator. Pastukh, the godson of Poberezhniuk and son of the unit's chief of staff, allegedly extorted money from soldiers, exploiting his family connections to senior leadership.
The 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, established in August 2023, focuses on engineering tasks and defense construction in non-combat zones. But the investigation raises serious concerns about leadership dynamics within the unit.
The revelations surface at a critical time for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which are grappling with challenges in recruitment, low enlistment rates, and cases of desertion. Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi has announced reforms to address recruitment and training shortcomings.
The investigation will now seek to uncover the full extent of abuse and ensure accountability within the brigade.
