Harassment and Extortion in the 211st Brigade: The Situation Around Brigadier General Poberezhniuk Remains Tense and Open to the Public
Widespread corruption and gross abuse of authority within the 211st Pontoon Bridge Brigade of the Support Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to attract public attention and law enforcement scrutiny. According to information obtained from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the former commander of this military unit, Major General Oleg Poberezhniuk, is still in custody. Case Details As stated in the official response from the SBI to the request from "Ukrainska Pravda," investigators are currently conducting a pre-trial investigation into the criminal case concerning the improper response of the command to incidents of abuse of subordinate servicemen. Specifically, this involves the failure of brigade officials to notify law enforcement agencies about cases of harassment involving soldier Vladislav Pastukh. This individual suffered violence and abuse from fellow soldiers, and his reports and appeals remained unaddressed by the command. Case Facts According to the SBI’s response, the criminal case has instituted a preventive measure against Poberezhniuk — he has been placed in custody with the possibility of posting a bail of 12 million hryvnias. It is known that he has not paid this bail, and therefore he is currently held in the temporary detention facility for military personnel. This is how law enforcement agencies ensure the preventive measure regime, as the suspect refused to pay the specified amount. Background of Events On the backdrop of the investigation that began on December 16, 2024, when "Ukrainska Pravda" published material about systematic harassment, extortion, and corruption schemes within the brigade, the situation has gained particular media interest. The next day, December 17, colleagues from the SBI launched a criminal investigation focused on illegal actions by the command staff during official duties. Oleg Poberezhniuk was officially notified of suspicion of abuse of office, which violates not only military discipline but also principles of legality and morality within the Ukrainian military. Further Court Decisions On December 19, the Ternopil City District Court imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of posting a bail of 908 thousand hryvnias. The next day, the officer paid this sum and was released from the detention facility. However, the case remains open: on December 29, SBI officers detained Poberezhniuk again and reported on the probable neglect of military authorities regarding the cessation and prevention of harassment. Once more, on December 19, the court decided — the commander was issued a new preventive measure in the form of detention with the possibility of posting a bail exceeding 12 million hryvnias. This underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the risks associated with the investigation and the suspect’s involvement in a sensitive case of harassment, corruption, and abuse of power. What’s Next? Civilian and military leadership anticipate further developments in the case, particularly concerning uncovering all circumstances and holding accountable all those involved in systemic violations within the 211st Brigade. Additionally, there is widespread information about other cases of harassment, money extortion, corruption schemes, and nepotism that have become a common shadow in military structures. This situation raises deep concerns among servicemen and public figures, as it questions principles of honesty, integrity, and safety within military units. Details and Secrets Revealed Details and information about the internal "engineering family," abuses against military personnel, extortion, and conflicts among commanders further confirm the need for transparent investigations and cleansing of military ranks from dishonest and corrupt elements. It is expected that relevant law enforcement and military authorities will respond to these facts in an effort to restore trust in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, their discipline, and integrity. Overall, the situation with the 211st Berezhnuk Brigade remains one of the most talked-about topics in Ukraine’s military sphere today. At the same time, it serves as an important reminder of the necessity to combat corruption, abuse, and violations of servicemen's rights, since without this, Ukraine cannot fully realize its potential in the fight for independence and sovereignty.