For the first time, President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly commented on the abduction and killing of two civilians, brothers, in the Kyiv region, saying everyone responsible – including military personnel – must face justice.
“Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported the detention of another member of the group that brutally killed two residents of the village of Kalynivka in the Kyiv region. It is a terrible tragedy, and all those responsible will be held accountable,” Zelensky wrote on Monday.
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According to the president, 10 suspects have now been detained, including servicemen and the former commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Stanislav Luchanov.
“Unfortunately, those detained include servicemen and the former commander of the 155th Brigade. Everything they did will be thoroughly investigated. This case concerns more than one community and extends beyond the Kyiv region. Establishing the full truth and ensuring everyone responsible is punished is a matter of importance for the entire country,” Zelensky said.
He added that regional authorities and police had met with residents of Kalynivka and stressed the importance of supporting the victims’ family.
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“It is important that people help ensure justice for the Moseychuk family. Everything promised to the community must be fulfilled. I thank everyone involved, including journalists, for keeping public attention on this case,” Zelensky wrote.
Case details
On Saturday, the Hromadske news outlet, reported that Luchanov was being sought after, with nine servicemen from the brigade being detained on suspicion of abducting two civilian brothers in the Kyiv region.
According to media reports, investigators believe the crime stemmed from a personal dispute. Luchanov allegedly ordered subordinates to abduct the two civilians, who were later taken to the Poltava region and killed.
In the early hours of June 28, seven men reportedly entered the yard of two brothers in the Kyiv region and forced them into vehicles. The victims were later identified in media reports as Maksym and Roman Moseychuk, whose father had been killed while serving on the front line.
Klymenko said investigators analyzed dozens of surveillance cameras, traced vehicle movements, identified the cars used, and gathered evidence that enabled them to reconstruct the crime.
“Investigations are not conducted in public, and not everything can be disclosed immediately. The extensive work carried out by the National Police together with prosecutors has produced results – the detention of an organized criminal group. The investigation continues, and those responsible will be held accountable,” Klymenko said.
On Saturday, Luchanov was declared AWOL after leaving his military unit without authorization. Later that day, he was formally charged with organizing the illegal deprivation of liberty or kidnapping of two people and the intentional murder of two or more people committed by a group acting in prior conspiracy under Ukraine’s Criminal Code.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) stressed that military rank would not shield anyone from prosecution. Operational Command “Pivnich” (North) confirmed Luchanov was wanted and said all personnel involved in the investigation had been suspended from duty.
On Sunday, the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelya” issued a statement distancing itself from the case.
The regiment said that although Luchanov had served as its chief of staff until February 2026, the alleged crimes took place after he became commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
“The 425th Separate Assault Regiment has no connection to the circumstances of this criminal proceeding or to any decisions made in another military unit,” the statement reads.
The regiment also condemned crimes against civilians, stressing that violence, abuse of power, and impunity are incompatible with military service and Ukrainian law.
Motorcycle noise dispute emerges as possible motive in murder case
According to Hromadske, one of the victims, Maksym Moseychuk, had formerly served as a grenade launcher operator and helped defend Kyiv during the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Vasyl Dmytrienko, a former serviceman, Maksym’s godfather and a close family friend, told the outlet that gunshots were heard in the village of Kalynivka on the night Maksym and his brother Roman disappeared.
Their brother, Serhiy, realized they were missing several days later, while local residents learned about the alleged abduction from police.
Dmytrienko said he and the brothers’ father, also named Serhiy Moseychuk, enlisted together at the start of the full-scale invasion but served in different units.
Serhiy Moseychuk was later killed after the vehicle carrying him and five other soldiers struck a landmine, with only two of the six soldiers surviving.
Residents of Kalynivka told Hromadske they believe the brothers may have been targeted following a dispute involving Luchanov’s wife, who had reportedly complained that the noise from motorcycles was disturbing her young child.
According to locals, Luchanov’s wife, Daria, and her mother lived in the village.
Residents also claimed that, shortly before the abduction, servicemen from the 155th Brigade went door to door with a list of names, asking where those people lived. Locals believe it may have been a list of motorcycle owners. However, the list reportedly included the name of the brothers’ sibling, Serhiy Moseychuk, but not Maksym or Roman.
According to sources cited by Dzerkalo Tyzhnya, investigators are examining a version of events in which Luchanov allegedly ordered eight subordinate soldiers to “punish” those he believed had insulted his wife. Authorities have not publicly confirmed that version of events, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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