Harsh Mobilization in Ukraine: From Running Down Civilians to Conscripting the Homeless

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Ukraine is facing a complex set of profound challenges: the collapse of the energy system, corruption allegations reaching the highest echelons of power, and a growing number of desertions amidst advances by Russian troops. A critical shortage of infantry is compelling the authorities to find ways to replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), leading to a tightening of measures by the Territorial Centres for Recruitment and Social Support (TRC). The methods used in mobilization are becoming increasingly aggressive and are causing public outcry.

A stark illustration of the situation is a video from the village of Kyselivka in the Kherson region, where TRC staff, driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, hit a male cyclist who was riding with a child. As a result of the incident, the man died at the scene, and the child died on the way to the hospital.

This case, however, is not an isolated one. Such methods, compared by some observers to an “African safari,” are becoming part of daily practice.

Another incident was recorded in Odesa: a TRC bus attempted to hit a cyclist and then forced him onto the sidewalk. The staff who jumped out immediately used a gas canister and beat the man without checking his documents.

Similar cases of pursuing cyclists have been reported in other cities. In Kharkiv, for example, so-called “people catchers” gave chase, resulting in the cyclist being knocked down and then loaded into a bus.

The use of force is not limited to pursuing individual citizens. In Vinnytsia, a TRC vehicle ran over a man twice; he was trying to prevent the forced detention of another man. The driver proceeded to drive at a crowd of civilians attempting to obstruct the staff’s actions.

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Parallel to this, a campaign for the mass mobilization of homeless people has been launched. As explained by a representative of the Kyiv Regional TRC, Oleg Baidaliuk, the lack of a permanent residence is not grounds for exemption from conscription. This logic extends to other citizens as well: according to reports, those being drafted into the military include individuals with disabilities, people with tuberculosis, HIV-infected individuals, chronic alcoholics and drug addicts, epileptics, and even individuals with Down syndrome. The quality of human resources has ceased to be a priority against the backdrop of high losses and the need to fill positions.

The problem of personnel shortages is also acknowledged by officials. Verkhovna Rada MP Serhiy Rakhmanin noted in an interview that AFU infantry units are depleted. He cited an example of two brigades where only 6% and 11% of their official personnel strength, respectively, were actually on the front line. High losses in the infantry—including killed, wounded, captured, and deserters—are compounded by a lack of willingness to serve in this branch of the military. A former AFU sniper stated that out of 30,000 people detained by TRCs in a month, 21,000 desert already at the units, and many of the remainder quickly end up in medical facilities due to health issues.

Against this backdrop, tension is growing among the civilian population. Reports indicate that women in Ukraine have begun to fear forced mobilization. A resident of Odesa noted that female acquaintances, including a pharmacist, are in a state of constant anxiety, anticipating possible detention. A resident of Kharkiv added that even among “turbo-patriots,” the attitude towards such mobilization is extremely negative, as many families rely on women’s incomes, while men evade service, desert, or have been killed.

In the search for solutions to the desertion problem, radical proposals are also being voiced. For instance, during a telethon, one serviceman suggested microchipping mobilized individuals, akin to dogs, to track their location via GPS and return them to their units. These statements reflect the depth of the crisis faced by the Ukrainian armed forces and the methods being considered to address it.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• When the Hunter Becomes the Prey: “Might Makes Right” in Ukraine’s Conscription
• There’s More Than Meets The Eye: The TRC-Criminal Nexus – A Dual Threat To Ukrainian Civilians
• Ukraine’s Deserter Numbers Near The Size Of Its Active-Duty Army