A 43-year-old man from Lviv has been remanded in custody without bail after taking a 13-year-old girl hostage on May 9. The incident occurred as he attempted to evade law enforcement officials from the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRS).
According to the local prosecutor’s office, the suspect noticed police and military personnel conducting notification activities when he fled. In his escape, he encountered a group of teenagers and, brandishing a knife, threatened the young girl.
“He approached the victim, threatening her with a knife, and held her captive,” said Julia Seryogina, a prosecutor from the Frankivsk District Prosecutor’s Office.
The TCRS has classified the incident as a deliberate attempt to harm Ukrainian defenders engaged in their official duties. The suspect’s motives remain unclear, as he has chosen not to provide any comments.
The prosecution’s request for the most stringent preventive measure was supported by the court. Seryogina noted that the suspect kept the girl from leaving until military personnel warned him that they would use their weapons to secure her release. Fortunately, the girl was unharmed during the ordeal.
Following the incident, authorities arrested the man and charged him with unlawful deprivation of liberty of a minor.
A man in Lviv has been charged with taking a 13-year-old girl hostage while attempting to evade law enforcement. The court has denied him bail, citing the severity of the crime and the potential danger posed to the victim.