On November 26, 2025, the Rivne police received a report about the discovery of the body of a first-year cadet from the Odessa Military Academy on the grounds of one of the colleges. The young man was there due to the dispersal of the academy’s units in response to the threat of Russian missile strikes.
This is reported by Rivne24
A few days before the tragedy, 17-year-old Pavlo Stovbun became a victim of bullying by his classmates, as reported by the hromadske channel.
Memories of Pavlo’s Relatives
“Pavlo’s mother had her birthday on November 20. We spoke, he laughed, and promised to come to Kyiv for Christmas to see his grandmother. He was an ordinary child; we could never have imagined that something was wrong,” recalls Pavlo’s aunt, Olha Melnyk.
According to reports, the bullying began after an incident where three cadets, including Pavlo, stole several energy drinks from a store. Classmates testified that this became known to the academy’s leadership, which imposed collective punishment by prohibiting all cadets from visiting the store. However, the sergeants decided that this was not enough.
Five sergeants forced three first-year students, accused of theft, to eat off the floor and drink salt water. After this, Pavlo was beaten by a senior from another course.
Investigators confirmed that two days before Pavlo’s death, several sergeants engaged in actions that exhibited signs of humiliation and violence against the boy. These abuses were even filmed on phones, which law enforcement seized.
“When something happens to a child in an educational institution, the parents should be notified. But no one called; it was Pavlo himself who called and said, ‘Mom, I’m in trouble,’” recounts Olha Melnyk.
On November 25, Pavlo’s mother spoke with her son, and the next day she learned of his death.
Response from the Academy and Investigation
The Odessa Military Academy stated that they had not received any official complaints or reports of bullying. However, according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, “non-statutory relations” include violence and bullying.
“Preliminary results of the internal investigation indicate violations of military discipline and the use of non-statutory measures,” the academy stated in their response.
The Rivne police have initiated criminal proceedings under the article concerning incitement to suicide. Meanwhile, the sergeants involved in the bullying have not yet been charged.
Reports indicate that the sergeants were sent on winter leave, and the words “murderer” and “burn in hell” appeared on the doors of their rooms.
This incident is not isolated: other cadets have also recounted the bullying they faced during their training.
Pavlo Stovbun would have turned 18 on January 8, 2026. On that day, his father passed away, unable to recover after burying his son.