The actress spoke about the death of 43-year-old Roman Sopin following his mobilisation. Her account differs from that of the TCC and the law enforcement agencies’ previous findings.
Ukrainian actress Kateryna Kuznetsova has claimed that officials from the regional recruitment centre were allegedly involved in the death of her friend, 43-year-old Roman Sopin from Kyiv.
She shared her story after she backed singer Olya Polyakova’s comments on mobilisation and the activities of the TCC, and faced criticism on social media.
Briefly about the main points
- Katerina Kuznetsova has accused representatives of the TCC of being responsible for her friend’s death.
- The man in question is Roman Sopin, a 43-year-old resident of Kyiv.
- Sopin died in hospital on 23 October after spending several days in a coma.
- The TCC and the military unit denied that violence had been used.
- The police have opened an investigation under the section of the Criminal Code relating to murder.
Kuznetsova spoke about her husband’s condition in hospital
According to the actress, Roman Sopin He did not resist mobilisation and was prepared to serve. He rang a mutual acquaintance and asked him to bring his contact lenses and other essentials the following day.
Katerina Kuznetsova states that the man was later seen in the intensive care unit with serious injuries.
«Her whole body was a purplish-blue colour, covered in bruises,» said the actress.
She also said that the family had allegedly been told that the injuries were caused by an epileptic fit and a fall onto a hard floor. Kuznetsova dismissed this version as untrue and stated that Sopin did not previously have epilepsy.
At the same time, the actress’s claim regarding the murder has not been corroborated by the findings of the investigation or by a court ruling.
Roman Sopin did not die the day after he was called up
In Kuznetsova’s account, it was stated that news of her husband’s death emerged the following morning. However, the timeline of events previously published differs from this.
Roman Sopin was called up on 18 October 2025. The following day, he was admitted to hospital with a closed head injury, after which he fell into a coma. He died in hospital on 23 October — five days after being mobilised.
The medical certificate cites the cause of death as a closed head injury, a haemorrhage in the brain, and fractures of the skull vault and base. The document also states that the injury was caused by a blunt object. At the same time, a hard surface against which a person might have struck their head during a fall could also be a blunt object.
The TCC and the military unit denied that the beating had taken place
The Podilskyi Territorial Recruitment Centre and the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Airborne Forces stated that, during a briefing, Sopin suddenly lost consciousness, fell and hit his head on the hard floor. First aid was administered and an ambulance was called.
According to the police, officers have interviewed more than ten witnesses. So far, they have found no evidence of violence. The forensic pathologist recorded a head injury but found no other physical injuries.
It is up to the police and forensic medical experts to determine definitively how the injuries were sustained.
The police have opened an investigation into a case of murder
The Kyiv police have launched criminal proceedings in connection with Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — murder. This classification is used to ensure a full investigation into the circumstances of the death and does not in itself imply that murder has already been proven. Law enforcement officers have seized CCTV footage from the distribution point.
