**Ukrainian Officer Charged with Abuse and Torture**
The State Bureau of Investigation in Ukraine has detained Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk, commander of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade. He is accused of failing to address allegations of abuse and torture by his subordinates.
A media investigation by Ukrainska Pravda found that soldiers were beaten, extorted, and even tied to a wooden cross as punishment. The commander was aware of this treatment but did not take action.
Poberezhniuk’s godson, Senior Lieutenant Vladyslav Pastukh, was previously implicated in the abuse cases. Poberezhniuk is also accused of misuse of resources. He allegedly directed soldiers to build his house while listing them as on duty elsewhere.
A court set bail at 908,400 hryvnias (approximately $21,600), allowing Poberezhniuk’s release on December 20. However, he was detained again after searches of his residence on December 28 and faces charges of inaction under martial law, which carries a penalty of seven to ten years in prison.
**Other News**
* An Azerbaijan Airlines plane was damaged by fire from the ground while flying over Russia before crashing.
* Child casualties in Ukraine have exceeded the total for 2023, according to UNICEF.
* Russia has escalated its aerial assault on Ukraine, launching hundreds of missiles and drones in a week.
* US President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s apology over a deadly Azerbaijan Airline crash appears to acknowledge Moscow‘s responsibility.
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