Conscript dies of internal injuries from beatings inflicted

In the early hours of Monday morning (27 November) Oleksandr Rybka, an 18-year-old conscript soldier in his first month of service and three days after taking his oath of allegiance died of beatings received in the No. 169 Infantry Training Centre in the Chernihiv region. The autopsy showed that the cause of death was a ruptured liver caused by serious beating.

According to the investigation, the crime occurred around midnight on Sunday evening when “unbefitting” [nestatutni] means of influence” were applied. 

Two corporals have been detained on suspicion of murder. A number of those in charge of the training centre have been suspended during the investigation. This decision was taken by Serhiy Kyrychenko, Head of the Armed Forces Headquarters.  One of the deputy heads of the given training unit will in the meantime undertake the duties of commander of the regiment.

Kyrychenko also stated on 28 November that the two corporals suspected of committing this crime are conscript solders who have served 6 months.

He reported that this year 78 military servicemen have died, in 26 cases this was in the cause of carrying out their military service duties.

18 soldiers had been given medical aid after suffering from bullying [nestatutni vidnosyny – literally unbefitting relations] and barracks hooliganism.

“We are not concealing what happens in the Armed Forces. On the contrary, we talk about these negative events, trying in this way to prevent them occurring in the future.” Kyrychenko stressed.

Based on information from Korespondent.net and Interfax-Ukraina