Incident in Shakhtarske
In the town of Shakhtarske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, three men—identified as members of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion—opened fire outside a local store, abducted a 20-year-old man, assaulted him, and left him on the town's outskirts. Police have arrested the suspects. The incident occurred near a closed store where a security guard and her acquaintance were present. The assailants attempted to break into the store, then began beating the young man until he lost consciousness. The situation escalated when the attackers drew weapons and fired multiple shots toward the store, causing it to catch fire.
The victim was forced into a vehicle and later dumped on the outskirts of town. Authorities reported that the detained men are aged 38, 25, and 24. News of the attack spread quickly through local social media channels, where photos from the scene surfaced, including images of the beaten victim with bruises and lacerations on his face.
Battalion and Public Response
The Da Vinci Wolves battalion's press service responded to the scandal, expressing deep regret over the incident. They emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable and incompatible with the battalion's values.
"We will not shift blame solely onto individuals. Every one of us shapes the battalion's reputation, so the entire unit will bear responsibility for this case," their statement read.
The battalion has launched an internal investigation and is cooperating with law enforcement. In their statement, they also offered to perform community service, including cleaning, repair, or social work. Meanwhile, Andriy Korynevych, a fighter from the 12th Azov Brigade, accused servicemen of the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the beating, highlighting similar incidents within military circles. Police have also identified two servicemen who assaulted soldier Roman Pokydko in early December.
This incident has sparked strong reactions from local residents and society at large. Attacks by military personnel—especially those tasked with protecting peace and security—undermine their societal role and risk eroding trust in military formations. The Da Vinci Wolves battalion's internal investigation and willingness to cooperate with police may serve as a first step toward restoring confidence, but rectifying the situation will require time and effort.
The recent incident involving the Da Vinci Wolves battalion highlights ongoing issues within military ranks, reminiscent of other troubling events. For instance, an attempted attack on a military recruitment center in Yavoriv has raised similar concerns about the conduct of servicemen. These patterns suggest a need for greater accountability and reform within armed forces to prevent such violent acts from occurring in the future.