"The Hutsul Ensemble" was brutally beaten by young men during their tour in Lviv region

The Ivano-Frankivsk National Ensemble of Song and Dance "Hutsuliya" became a victim of a brutal attack in the Lviv region. The incident occurred after their return from performances in Poland and Finland when the artists stopped at the OKKO gas station in the city of Sheptytsky.

At around three o'clock in the morning, despite the ongoing curfew, a group of six aggressive young men and three girls stormed the ensemble's bus, behaving inappropriately. They scattered the artists' belongings, provoked a conflict, and used physical force against the performers. Several members of the ensemble were injured, sustaining broken noses, multiple bruises, and even a concussion.

"This was not a conflict, but a deliberate, one-sided attack. We have no doubt that this was not a random encounter during a fight," said the representative of "Hutsuliya," Vasyl Sheremeta.

The efforts of "Hutsuliya" were not only aimed at popularizing Ukrainian culture but also at carrying out a volunteer-diplomatic mission. Therefore, the attack was a particularly hard blow, both physically and psychologically.

Response from law enforcement

Despite the obviousness of the situation, the ensemble notes the insufficient response from law enforcement who arrived at the scene. According to the victims, the police did not detain the attackers but instead communicated with them, despite their aggressive behavior and inappropriate language.

"Why were the people who inflicted injuries not detained?" the artists questioned in their statement. "This is a matter of public safety and trust in law enforcement. We are not looking for hype — we are seeking justice," they emphasized.

"Hutsuliya" plans to continue its tour in Poland this week, but before that, the collective needs to achieve justice and safety for themselves in Ukraine. The situation causes outrage among the public, as such incidents may recur without adequate response from law enforcement.

The video of the incident can be viewed on the official page of "Hutsuliya," but it is noted that it contains inappropriate language.