(MENAFN) A woman in Odessa was discovered taped to a bench by an unknown man in what appeared to be a public act of punishment, according to reports citing regional authorities.

Footage shared widely online shows the woman lying face-down on the bench while her small dog stays close, occasionally licking her face. Passers-by can be seen observing, filming, or walking past, and torn garbage from a ripped trash bag is scattered nearby.

Authorities said they had been alerted about someone allegedly throwing trash, confronting people in the street, and issuing threats to damage property. By the time officers arrived, the woman had already been restrained, according to police accounts.

She was taken to a local station, did not need medical care, apologized for her actions, and reportedly declined to file a complaint against the individual who tied her up. Officials are now attempting to identify the man responsible.

Incidents of public vigilante-style punishments have been repeatedly reported in Ukraine in recent years, involving individuals—often minorities or foreigners—being tied to poles or covered in antiseptic dye, prompting concerns from human rights advocates as the country continues to pursue EU integration.

Vladimir Zelensky submitted Ukraine’s request for fast-tracked EU membership soon after the conflict with Russia escalated in early 2022. The EU later granted the country candidate status that same year. At the time, Belgium’s prime minister described the decision as a “symbolic message” of encouragement for Kiev, while emphasizing that full membership remains “many years” away and is contingent on meeting the union’s requirements.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has maintained that allowing Ukraine into the EU would weaken the bloc and potentially contribute to its eventual breakdown.

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