
Due to widespread violations and mistreatment of soldiers in the 211th Pontoon-Bridge Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Support, as reported by the media, a criminal investigation has been initiated. The State Bureau of Investigations (GBR) is looking into possible instances of misconduct by officials within the unit.
According to the press service of the State Bureau of Investigations, a criminal case has been opened to uncover facts of abuse by officials of the aforementioned brigade. This includes potential unlawful measures and violence against subordinates.
"On December 16, the specialized military prosecutor's office in Ternopil launched a criminal case regarding the application of unlawful measures against subordinates (Part 5 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) by the command of the 211th pontoon-bridge brigade. The investigation has been assigned to the State Bureau of Investigations," the press service explained.
It is stated that bureau specialists will review materials collected during service inspections of the brigade by the Main Inspection of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. They will also examine media reports and social media posts regarding the abuse of soldiers.



The GBR assures that previously, no materials related to this situation had been submitted to the detectives by either official representatives or soldiers of the brigade.
"In addition, the State Bureau of Investigations urges military personnel to immediately file official complaints if they encounter similar cases in their military formations. This will enable a rapid response to violations and help prevent such incidents in the future," the agency noted.
Furthermore, it is reported that the National Police is investigating the brigade's leadership for involving subordinates in the construction of a personal home in the Khmelnytskyi region instead of having them serve in combat zones. Today, the commander has been notified of suspicion for abuse of power with serious consequences (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to a statement from the National Police, investigators in Ternopil reported suspicion to the commander of the military unit, who involved four servicemen in the construction of his own house in Khmelnytskyi region. For such "service," they received financial compensation as if they were in a combat zone.


It was established that from October to December 2023, under the commander's instructions, subordinates were constructing a private house in one of the villages of Khmelnytskyi region. Meanwhile, they were officially included in the order for deployment to the combat zone in Mykolaiv region.
"However, as investigators found, the servicemen were at home, receiving salaries and combat payments. The total amount of payments during this period reached nearly one million hryvnias," law enforcement stated.
Additionally, it is mentioned that searches were conducted at the military unit, at the residence of the commander, the servicemen, and the construction site, with relevant documentation and other material evidence seized.
The suspect has been charged with abuse of power resulting in severe consequences for state interests. He faces up to 6 years in prison with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities for up to three years, among other penalties. The issue of selecting a preventive measure for the suspect is being resolved.
Scandal in the 211 Brigade - What We Know
Recall that journalists uncovered significant issues in the 211th Pontoon-Bridge Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Support. The publication states that commanders mistreat subordinates, demand money, use violence, and even tie them to wooden crosses. It has been revealed that the core of the 211 pontoon-bridge brigade was formed from individuals with long-standing service, friendship, or family ties.
The brigade commander, Colonel Oleg Poberezhnyuk, whose wife worked in the Territorial Recruitment Center, is among those implicated. Among such "family connections" was the Pastukhov family. Chief of Staff Valeriy Pastuk and his son Vladislav were in direct subordination to each other, which is prohibited by law, and actively exploited their positions for personal gain.
According to media reports, one of the most notorious abuse cases involved the construction of a house for Poberezhnyuk. Four soldiers, ostensibly assigned to perform tasks in a combat zone, were actually building the commander's house in Khmelnytskyi region. For their supposed participation in combat activities, they received bonuses of 100,000 hryvnias each.