Claims of a Ukrainian ‘torture chamber’ went viral. What really happened?

Petropavlivska-Borshchagivka, Ukraine – A woman wearing a crisp new paramedic’s uniform and impeccable makeup kneels on the ground in front of several police officers guarding the rusty gates of a two-storey house.She begs, yells and curses, claiming that forcibly conscripted men are being held in the building in the tranquil suburb of Petropavlivska-Borshchagivka, outside the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Ukraine raises death toll from Russian strike on Zaporizhia to 40 peoplelist 2 of 4Russia says Ukrainian postal hub, ship hit; Kyiv strikes Ryazan refinerylist 3 of 4Melania Trump hosts Russia-Ukraine meeting after Oleshky ceasefirelist 4 of 4Rocket launcher deal illustrates deepening Russia-Iran relationsend of listOne of the men has already died, claims the woman, who was later identified as Valentyna Moloda, a 49-year-old nurse who once worked at a plastic surgery clinic and has never been authorised to practise as a paramedic.The ambulance she arrived in carries the logos of a private medical company that reportedly stopped operating in 2023. A woman from Moloda’s “ambulance team” livestreams the scene as a crowd swells, joining in her ...