On February 17, 2026, at midnight in the center of Dnipro, two young men aged 16 and 17 met a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Subsequently, the minors followed the man, and a verbal conflict arose between them. One of the young men pulled out a knife and struck the victim four times in the back.

After that, they knocked the serviceman to the ground and struck him with their hands and feet on the head and torso, all while recording it on mobile phones.

They left the victim unconscious, taking his bag with belongings.

Around 03:00, the man was discovered by law enforcement officers during a patrol in an unconscious state and was hospitalized.

Currently, the victim is in intensive care in serious condition. He has been diagnosed with an open traumatic brain injury, a concussion, a penetrating stab wound, and multiple hematomas.

Records from surveillance cameras were seized, and the suspects were quickly identified.

During searches, clothing with traces of blood and a knife were seized, which were sent for forensic examination, as well as mobile phones with video recordings of the crime.

The minors were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

Under the procedural guidance of the Central District Prosecutor's Office of Dnipro, they were informed of suspicion of attempted intentional murder for mercenary motives, committed by a group of individuals in premeditated conspiracy (Part 2 of Article 15, paragraphs 6, 12 of Part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

On February 20, 2026, preventive measures in the form of detention without the right to bail were chosen for the suspects.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.