An incident occurred in Ivano-Frankivsk involving a soldier of the Azov battalion, Andriy Korynevych, who claims to have been attacked by soldiers of the Third Separate Assault Brigade
The incident became the subject of an investigation and caused a wide resonance in military and public circles, emphasizing the tension and security situation among Ukrainian defenders in the rear and on the front line. According to the victim himself, the attack occurred on June 13, this year, near his own house in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Andriy Korynevych reported in his Facebook post that he was attacked by two masked men - one of them was armed with a telescopic baton, the other with tear gas. They carried out the attack in the afternoon, when Andriy was returning home with his wife. According to him, initially the incident appeared to be an ordinary robbery, as the criminals did not attack his personal belongings or vehicles, which distinguishes this event from typical illegal attacks. Examining the circumstances of the incident, the Ivano-Frankivsk region police quickly identified the attackers. Among the detainees were allegedly servicemen of the Third Separate Assault Brigade, who, according to the victim, “have close ties with the commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Andriy Biletsky.” Thus, according to Korinevych, one of the attackers is Semen Klok, who was previously held criminally liable for theft, hooliganism, causing bodily harm, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Another suspect is Vasyl Bondarenko, a person with a criminal record for armed attacks on collectors and a suspect in an international wanted list for murder. Korynevych emphasizes that Bondarenko became a soldier of the 3rd separate assault brigade precisely thanks to the support of Andriy Biletsky, who on the eve of the start of a large-scale military invasion took him “on bail”, motivating this by the fact that he would “defend Ukraine at the front”. Additional evidence is provided by acquaintance with other potential participants in the attack. In particular, military man Maksym Bilogub, who was allegedly there at the time of the attack, as well as another combat comrade, Serhiy Tsyganchuk, call sign “Sova”, who, according to Korynevych, recently left abroad this month. The victim believes that it is the commander of the 3rd Army Corps, Biletsky, who may be involved in covering up the traces of the attack and hiding the attackers. Korynevych himself is convinced that the motives for such aggression may be related to his service in the Azov battalion since the time of Biletsky’s command or to personal hostility due to his public statements and connections. “Maybe they just wanted to humiliate or intimidate me. I don’t know exactly why they attacked me, but I am sure that direct influence or at least known support from Biletsky is close to the truth here,” he said in a comment. The Ivano-Frankivsk police have already confirmed the fact of the attack and launched an investigation. An official police representative reported that the attackers are known, and investigative actions are underway to clarify all the circumstances of the incident. Responding to a request from Ukrainska Pravda, the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” emphasized their position on the inevitability of justice and condemned any manifestations of violence against Ukrainian servicemen. For its part, the Azov command also expressed indignation and harshness in responding to this situation. The statement emphasizes that the attack on a serviceman is unacceptable and requires a quick and thorough response from law enforcement agencies. They call for the prevention of such incidents and their normalization in the military environment, as the perpetrators must be held accountable. This incident raises questions about the level and procedures for interaction between different military formations, as well as internal discipline and relationships within the ranks of Ukrainian defenders, especially those in rear positions. The investigation will continue, and in the near future investigators should publish additional details and results. Overall, this case emphasizes the relevance of the issue of internal security and trust in the military environment, especially during periods of active hostilities and tensions arising within the Ukrainian defense forces. We hope that, based on the results of the investigation, the perpetrators will be found and brought to justice in accordance with the law, and the situation will be able to become an occasion for further strengthening internal discipline and mutual assistance among the Ukrainian military.