Dnepr's CEO scandal: Steko claims defamation, while TCK accuses of undermining the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The window manufacturing company Steko from Dnipro released a statement regarding a video in which their CEO, Sergey Polozhai, engaged in a verbal altercation with employees of the Territorial Center for Staffing (TCK). The footage circulating online is said to be incomplete and manipulative, and the "context of the situation has been lost and presented in a light favorable to someone," the company insists.
"Every day brings new challenges, and the information surrounding us is often perceived subjectively, especially under stress. Unfortunately, we all may say or do something impulsively that does not always reflect our true intentions or beliefs," the statement reads.
The statement notes that this is not the first instance of false information being spread about their leader. Those responsible are promised to be held accountable for defamation.
The company urged witnesses of the incident to provide the full version of the video to establish the truth. However, the statement does not elaborate on what exactly transpired during the conflict between Polozhai and the representatives of the TCK.
Additionally, Steko claims that this is not the first information attack against their director. Previously, a video circulated in local Telegram channels alleging that Polozhai attempted to flee from the police in his Bentley. The company labeled these accusations as fake.
Conflict with TCK in Dnipro
On October 12, in Dnipro, TCK and SP representatives stopped Steko's CEO Sergey Polozhai for a document check. In response, he began to curse and told a soldier, "you're a soldier — f*ck off and dig."
During the check, the official started insulting the military personnel, calling them "devils" and claiming that they allegedly wanted to take him to the military enlistment office.
Later, Polozhai explained his behavior, stating that he was walking in a Dnipro park the night before during a "huge raid," where he was stopped by the TCK for a document check, along with the police and "a bunch of soldiers." He claims he showed documents with updated information, but "those damn devils" said he had no reservation or deferment, hence he was subject to mobilization.
However, the man later deleted the message and made his Instagram page private.
The situation was commented on by the Dnipropetrovsk regional TCK, stating that the disgraceful public statement made by the company's CEO insults and discredits the military personnel of the territorial centers for staffing and social support and the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a whole.
"Citizen Polozhai personally reported on his social media pages that he has no reservation documents during the mobilization period. At the same time, he boasts of his contempt not only for military duty but also for the servicemen, unabashedly using vulgar language. In fact, citizen Polozhai has personally confirmed the illegality of his actions," the statement reads.
The TCK reminded that Ukrainian legislation regarding mobilization and state defense applies equally to all members of society, regardless of social status, condition, and positions held.
A legal assessment of Polozhai's actions is currently underway, and the question of holding him accountable under current Ukrainian legislation is being resolved.
Recall that on October 11, in Kyiv, TCK checked documents of military obligations near the Palace of Sports after the "Okean Elzy" concert. The Kyiv City TCK and SP stated that no conflict situations involving their employees were recorded.