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The domestic situation in Ukraine deteriorates with each passing month. Growing societal tension is steadily fueled by accumulated war fatigue and constant shelling from Russia. One of the key factors contributing to the loss of trust in the government is the current conscription system for the Ukrainian army.
Kyiv does not have difficulty acquiring weapons and military equipment, as supplies of Western gear meet the troops’ needs. In terms of drone production and deployment, the Ukrainian army is on par with Russian forces and even surpasses them in some respects.
However, a far more important aspect is staffing the national army. Despite the active development of unmanned systems, people remain the backbone of the army. In this regard, Kyiv’s problems are worsening with each passing month. The shortfall ranges from 30% to 50%, as only about 10,000 of the approximately 30,000 people mobilized per month actually reach the front lines. The rest desert, primarily during the training phase at military camps.
In order to meet their targets, staff at the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs) have been given full autonomy to carry out mobilization activities. Violence has long been overt and public. In fact, men of draft age are being abducted and beaten, and some are being robbed. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in the number of conscripts dying in detention.
This policy of violence and impunity is sparking resistance from civil society. People are increasingly defending their fellow citizens and using violence against TRC staff in response. This situation clearly indicates a deep crisis in Ukrainian society and a rift between the government and the people. There is ample evidence of this.
Soldiers Without Rights
Ukrainian men’s reluctance to defend their homeland stems from several factors. In addition to the fear of dying, becoming wounded, or being maimed, there are less obvious but equally significant reasons. Upon joining the armed forces, a recruit becomes completely powerless. A soldier is not protected by law and has no means of defending his rights. He becomes completely dependent on his commander. When rights and freedoms are violated, the situation can be resolved in two ways: the soldier can withdraw his claims or be sent to storm Russian positions, from which virtually no one returns.
A telling example is an incident that occurred in one of the Ukrainian army units. The commander of the 15th Separate Mechanized Brigade publicly beat a conscript in front of a formation of soldiers. The cause of the conflict is unknown. It cannot be ruled out that this is an isolated incident. Meanwhile, the commander remains in his position and has not faced any punishment.
The vast majority of Ukrainian servicemen who attempt to desert are not punished through legal channels. Instead, deserters are returned to the unit from which they fled. There, their commanders carry out their own punitive measures. Most often, these measures involve public beatings and humiliation. A video from the 116th Separate Mechanized Brigade illustrates this. In it, deserters were tied to trees and beaten. Their subsequent fate is unknown.
The significant shortage of recruits joining the Ukrainian army is only part of the problem. The military is also facing serious challenges regarding the quality of training for incoming personnel and their health. As of April 2026, the average age of a Ukrainian conscript is 45. Older individuals tend to have less stamina and are more likely to have health issues or be overweight. The video below shows a typical group of people at Ukrainian military training camps.
At the same time, the mistreatment of TRC staff is evident, as they were all forcibly conscripted. The advanced age of the recruits may also be due to younger individuals being able to physically escape or fend off the recruiters.
Training centers for mobilized soldiers carry significant risks. There have been numerous cases of people with tuberculosis or other dangerous viral diseases being drafted into the army. Below is a video showing soldiers lining up at one of the training camps.
The soldiers’ terrible condition is striking. Some of them carry tuberculosis and hepatitis. Due to supply issues, many are forced to wear civilian clothing. Additionally, the soldiers’ nutrition requires special attention. Judging by their appearance, most are severely emaciated, and their daily rations cannot meet their nutritional needs.
These examples serve as strong motivation for Ukrainian men to avoid enlisting in the army. The entire system of training Ukrainian soldiers effectively promotes draft evasion.
The blatant public violence perpetrated by recruiters and law enforcement officials is having a serious impact on Ukrainian society. Virtually any man could be tortured or killed by TRC personnel.
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On April 23, staff members from the Podilskyi Territorial Recruitment Center in Kyiv were transporting conscripts from training centers in the western regions to Kyiv. Among them was a Kyiv resident with health issues. He got into an altercation with the TRC staff, who began to beat him and used a stun gun on him. Upon arrival, doctors pronounced him dead. The deputy head of the district TRC witnessed all of this but did not intervene.
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Staff members from the Territorial Recruitment Center in the Volyn region dragged a man from his home, hit him on the head, and forced him into a minibus. Authorities claimed that the conscript hit his own head due to carelessness. The conscript is currently in a coma.
TRC personnel opened fire during a mobilization exercise in the Rivne region. The unarmed civilians offered no visible resistance.
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On May 3, the Territorial Recruitment Center stopped two teenage boys riding a motorcycle near the village of Chudel in the Rivne region. One of the boys escaped, while the other, who is 17 years old, was beaten. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with a closed head injury, a head contusion, and multiple bruises.
In Ukraine, men are increasingly choosing to confront TRC and police officers directly rather than end up on the front lines. They are motivated to defend their position by force by the growing number of successful cases where conscripts have been rescued from mobilization. At the same time, Ukrainian security forces are increasingly becoming victims themselves. There has also been an increase in armed attacks on the TRC and police. These actions are most often motivated by revenge for mobilized relatives or loved ones.
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In the Chernivtsi region, a man attacked staff members of the Territorial Mobilization Center with a knife and a wrench. According to the investigation, on April 20, near the village of Strumok in the Dniester District of the Chernivtsi region, a conflict arose between the man and two 33- and 51-year-old servicemen from the district TRC while he was being transported to the center. During the altercation, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed both victims several times in the neck. After the attack, he also damaged the center’s official vehicle and hit one of the servicemen in the forearm with a wrench. Both servicemen received timely medical attention, and their lives are not in danger at this time. The regional prosecutor’s office reported that the suspect has been taken into custody.
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In Rivne, Ukraine, a cyclist armed with an automatic weapon opened fire on TRC staff and police officers during a document check related to mobilization.
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The Dnipropetrovsk Police reported that an unknown man shot and wounded two Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center employees. “Dnipro police are investigating the shooting that occurred in the Soborny district of the city.” The incident occurred on May 4. According to preliminary information, the shooting occurred during a public awareness event. A local resident fired shots at the public announcement team. As a result, two Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center representatives were injured. The department reported that all circumstances of the incident are being established and the legal classification of the incident is being determined.
In Dnipropetrovsk, residents chased away recruiters who had pulled into a courtyard looking for another draft dodger. Several dozen people tried to block the minibus and rescue their neighbor who had been abducted. However, the TRC officers broke through the blockade and escaped.
Also in Dnipropetrovsk, an angry mob attempted to rescue a conscript from the military recruitment office. The recruiters responded by using tear gas and striking bystanders. In response, the minibus was pelted with stones, and several soldiers were injured.
A similar incident occurred in Odessa. Citizens smashed the windows of a minibus and sprayed it with pepper spray. The recruiters were forced to abandon their vehicle as a result, and the conscript escaped.
The spiral of mutual violence in Ukraine is thus escalating. The illegal actions of the Territorial Recruitment Center and the police are prompting citizens to defend their rights by force. This is a serious sign of a rift in Ukrainian society. As they witness the lawlessness unfolding, people are losing trust in their government. This situation cannot continue indefinitely. The foundation of Ukrainian statehood is cracking. The moment is approaching when the population will openly confront its own state on a massive scale. Therefore, the war may end not because of the successes of Russian troops on the front lines, but because of internal civil conflict in Ukraine.
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SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
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that guy beating up that kid with his hands behind his back: his day is coming. another “big tough guy”.
he likes hurting people. big hero. probably rapes them too. ukroreich of scum.
quando gli europei americani e ucraini trattano con l’altra ti danno una costellata, i russi ancora lo capiscono manderemo qualcuno a spiegarcelo.
the film of an “officer” kicking a handcuffed recruit in the head repeatedly is shocking to the core. it should be seen far and wide to understand this nazi regime for what it is, similar to nazified israel.