World
Ukrainian Woman Arrested Over Alleged ‘Torture Chamber’ Claims
A 49‑year‑old woman, identified as Valentyna Moloda, was arrested after claiming that men who had evaded conscription were being violently assaulted in a two‑storey house in Petropavlivska‑Borshchagivka, a suburb of Kyiv. Moloda, who had never been authorised to practise as a paramedic, appeared in a new paramedic uniform and was accompanied by a woman from her “ambulance team” who livestreamed the scene. She demanded access to the building, calling it a “torture chamber” and alleging that armed personnel were torturing 40 men. The crowd grew to about 500 people, clashing with police, throwing eggs and tomatoes, and damaging police vehicles until midnight.
Officials say Moloda’s rescue mission was staged and required preparation. Ukraine’s Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that Moloda and her driver had conducted a reconnaissance of the house three days earlier. Budanov later arrived at the scene, and four men were allowed to leave the house on a bus, including one who Moloda claimed could not move due to a broken spine. The house on Solnichna Street had previously been used by the Azov Brigade, a volunteer militia that became part of the National Guard.
Al Jazeera interviewed local residents, many of whom described the incident as a provocation. One elderly man, Serhiy, said both the Azov Brigade and Moloda were at fault. A 17‑year‑old, Mykola, noted that the event was not comparable to the 2013‑2014 Maidan protests.
Moloda was taken into custody and is being held without bail for 60 days. Prosecutors found evidence that she had once performed “rescue services” as a fake paramedic for 107,000 hryvnia ($2,355). She was also alleged to have been hired for about $7,000 by the relatives of deserter Andriy Kuleshov to extract him from the Azov house. Kuleshov’s name appears in the Myrotvorets database for crossing into separatist‑controlled areas.
The incident has drawn attention to broader concerns about conscription practices in Ukraine. Since 2023, conscription officers have been accused of intimidation, beatings, and corruption, with 76 officers arrested for accepting bribes up to tens of thousands of dollars. Reports of fake ambulances and other illicit methods to evade the draft have also emerged.
The story has been widely shared online, and pro‑Russian analysts have used it to criticize Ukrainian conscription policies. However, no confirmation of ties to Russian intelligence has been established. The case remains under investigation.