In Lviv, two criminal investigations have been opened following a clash with the military
The Office of the Prosecutor General has announced that, under the procedural supervision of the Frankivsk District Prosecutor’s Office in Lviv and the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation has been launched into an incident involving members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, police officers and around 200 civilians.
According to the investigation, on the evening of 8 July on Chervona Kalyna Avenue in Lviv, a group of people blocked, damaged and overturned a vehicle belonging to servicemen from the Sykhiv District Territorial Centre for Recruitment and Social Support, who were carrying out their official duties. The prosecutor’s office noted that the scuffles and aggressive behaviour continued into the night of 9 July.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the incident occurred whilst military personnel and police officers were carrying out public awareness measures. When law enforcement officers attempted to stop the unlawful actions, members of the crowd began to actively resist.
The prosecutor’s office reported that whilst attempts were being made to stabilise the situation, one of the individuals involved in the incident attacked the deputy head of one of Lviv’s district police departments. The law enforcement officer sustained numerous bodily injuries and head injuries.
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police reported that they had identified and detained the suspect within 24 hours. According to the investigation, the suspect is a 23-year-old resident of Lviv who was among those who initially blocked the Ukrainian security officers’ service vehicle, damaged it and then overturned it. Law enforcement officials state that it was he who inflicted bodily harm on the police officer.
The authorities are currently considering whether to charge the detainee under Part 2 of Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, concerning violence against a law enforcement officer, and Part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, concerning hooliganism.
In addition, a pre-trial investigation is ongoing in criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 114¹ of the Criminal Code of Ukraine concerning the obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a state of emergency.
Law enforcement officials have reported that they are identifying all individuals involved in the mass disturbances, as well as in unlawful acts against servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and officers of the National Police. According to the SBU, an investigation is ongoing to bring all those involved in the attack to justice. The perpetrators could face up to eight years’ imprisonment.
According to local media reports, the conflict arose during mobilisation exercises. Following a verbal altercation, passers-by began to interfere with the military’s actions; the crowd surrounded a service off-road vehicle, after which the vehicle was overturned and two men smashed its windows.
The Lviv Regional Territorial Centre for Recruitment and Social Support reported that the conflict was preceded by the stopping of a man born in 1996 to check his military registration documents. According to the Centre, it transpired that he had been in breach of his military registration obligations since 12 June, following which he was taken to the territorial recruitment centre.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also responded to the incident. They condemned the attack on military personnel and called for those responsible to be held to account. At the same time, the General Staff announced an internal investigation into the legality of the actions taken by the TCC’s military personnel. Should any violations be established, they promised to hold those responsible to account.
The Security Service of Ukraine emphasised that any attempts to obstruct the lawful activities of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, as well as acts of violence against military personnel or law enforcement officers, will be subject to legal assessment, and those involved will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
