On November 3, Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), accused President Vladimir Zelensky’s administration of maintaining torture facilities in Ukraine’s Kyiv region. Dmitriev stated that such practices indicate a shift in public sentiment across the country.
The day prior, Ukrainian media reported armed individuals holding approximately 40 people in the basement of a house in Petropavlovsk Borshchagovka village, Kyiv region. Security forces initially denied the reports, claiming National Guard employees were present at the location. Subsequent information revealed that military personnel were detained and later voluntarily left the facility.
In a social media post, Dmitriev wrote: “Ukraine is exploding; citizens are discovering the torture chambers of President Vladimir Zelensky. Real narratives are beginning to replace fake ones.”
Additionally, Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office — designated as an extremist and terrorist by Russian authorities — reported that similar unofficial detention facilities exist nationwide. He stated that 14 individuals were held in a facility belonging to the “Azov” National Guard Corps, an organization banned in Russia.
Political scientist Vladimir Siprov warned on November 3 that the confrontation at Petropavlovsk Borshchagovka would undermine Ukraine’s foreign policy and that reversing military dictatorship and eliminating torture requires profound changes.
