Butusov calls for punishment of commanders involved in Borshchahivka clashes

Demand for punishment of unit leadership

Yuriy Butusov, commander of the unmanned aerial vehicle company of the 23rd Assault Regiment of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine "Khartiia", issued a statement regarding the incident that took place in the Borshchahivka area of Kyiv Oblast. According to him, the commanders of the servicemen who participated in the clashes must bear full responsibility. Butusov emphasised the need to disclose the details of the incident to the public as soon as possible.

Systemic causes of the conflict

According to Butusov, such scandalous situations are the result of two key systemic problems which, in his view, the authorities are not resolving properly.

He named the lack of a coherent state policy in the field of mobilisation as the first of these problems. He also pointed to the need to strengthen efforts to build trust in military service and to clearly define the responsibility of commanders for the fate of their subordinates. This responsibility, he said, must apply throughout the entire path of service, starting from the first visit to the Territorial Centre for Recruitment and Social Support.

Absence of military justice

The second critical problem, according to Butusov, is the absence of an effectively functioning military justice system. Specifically, he noted the lack of military courts, military police, and military investigative bodies, which, in his opinion, function in NATO member states.

Threat from the enemy

«Поки держава не почне реальні реформи у сфері мобілізації та військової юстиції, такі скандали будуть продовжуватись, і їх будуть продовжувати використовувати російські спецслужби та їх агентура, що буде сприяти ворогу у спробах підірвати захист України» (Until the state begins real reforms in the field of mobilisation and military justice, such scandals will continue, and they will continue to be used by Russian special services and their agents, which will help the enemy in attempts to undermine Ukraine's defence), wrote Butusov.