(Photo by the President Of Ukraine via Flickr/Public Domain)
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Within the Russo-Ukrainian War, severe violations of international humanitarian law are occurring not only in combat zones but also on the home front, where people are being deceptively and forcibly sent to the front lines against their will. Western media extensively covers Russian brutality and mobilization tactics but often skirts the issue of President Zelenskyy’s no less questionable conscription practices.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian and independent media have continuously reported on nationwide scandals involving forceful recruitment by the Ukrainian Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR/TCK). The Ukrainian military and recruitment police have been accused of systematic physical abuse and, in some cases, even the deaths of mobilized Ukrainian men.
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Join the Sphere →It is undeniable that the situation in Ukraine is devastating. The country is experiencing an intensifying humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced, killed, and pushed into poverty. Nonetheless, the state of emergency and ongoing war should not justify the government’s aggressive and violent conscription methods.
A Spiralling Conscription Crisis
Ukraine is facing a well-known and acute conscription crisis. Its population is four times smaller than Russia’s, and thousands of men have fled the country, unwilling to fight. Meanwhile, Russia continues to successfully fund its war effort with its vast oil and gas reserves despite sanctions. Even with assistance from its Western allies, Ukraine continues to face a significant manpower shortage. As a result, Zelenskyy’s government began adopting aggressive measures to address the military’s personnel shortage.
Under current martial law, the state is permitted to enforce mobilization and restrict Ukrainian men from leaving the country. However, the unethical and violent implementation of these policies became a problem. In response to these human rights violations, protests broke out across the country. For Western observers, a search for #тцк (TCR) on Instagram or Twitter reveals hundreds of videos posted by Ukrainians depicting the military forcefully detaining people in the streets. The footage shows Ukrainian men surrounded by military officers, pushed onto buses, and often physically abused. This violent conscription practice is often referred to as “busification”.
News outlets such as Al Jazeera and Radio Svoboda (Independent Ukrainian media) report on the severe abuse of power by recruitment officials. The TCR officers are catching people in the streets using force and tear gas, beating them, and forcing them onto buses. Once detained and brought to a recruitment centre, it is almost impossible to return home.
These claims have also been confirmed in a 2026 United Nations report, which interviewed 75 Ukrainians. Some reported being beaten by TCR officers or police. The interviewees also described that “in the military camps, they were subjected to punishment and psychological pressure, such as mock executions, confinement in a pit dug in the ground […] and threats of sexual violence; and denial of food.”
Injured Before Reaching the Front Lines
There have been even more severe incidents in which such ‘recruitment practices’ resulted in deaths of mobilized Ukrainian men.
The mother of a 43-year-old architect from Dnipro told Radio Svoboda that her son died from multiple blunt force injuries before ever reaching the front line. Her son, Yevhen Lahunov, was detained on March 2nd by TCR officers. In the following days, he underwent a military medical examination and was declared fit for rear-line service. He was assigned to serve in the military centre of the Dnipropetrovsk region. The last time his family spoke with him was while he was being transported there.
Just a few hours later, the family was notified that Yevhen was admitted to the hospital with multiple injuries and was in a coma. According to Radio Svoboda: “Following his death, [Ukrainian] police launched a criminal investigation on suspicion of intentional homicide.” It was evident to both his family and the coroner that battle-related injuries did not cause his death.
(Photo by the President Of Ukraine via Flickr/Public Domain)
Yevhen Lahunov’s tragic case is not the only incident reported in Ukraine’s information space. Another such incident in February 2026 was covered by Kyiv’s newspaper Focus. It reported that three TCR officers were arrested in connection with the death of a 55-year-old man in the same Dnipropetrovsk region. In 2025 alone, Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman received 6,127 complaints about alleged violations committed by TCR officers. Unfortunately, cases in which those responsible actually face consequences are relatively rare.
Why Human Rights Violations Go Uncovered by Mainstream Media
The merciless state of war does not spare the lives of citizens whose rights are weakly protected, if at all, by dysfunctional institutions. When the state is focused on its own survival, the rights of mobilized men are often overlooked or ignored. Even under Ukraine’s current martial law, the right to life and the prohibition of torture and cruel treatment remain protected under international human rights law.
Unfortunately, Western media often ignore the undemocratic violations committed by the Ukrainian Army, as well as other issues, including unprecedented corruption and electoral controversy. These topics often do not fit the mainstream narrative or the need to justify spending billions of taxpayer dollars. If one searches for terms such as “mobilization” and “Ukraine” on CNN or Fox News, one will find few, if any, articles portraying Ukraine in a negative light or reporting on alleged violations.
The values of personal freedom and democracy are deeply ingrained in Western democratic societies. For years, Western media repeatedly emphasized that the United States and its allies were defending Ukraine’s independence and democracy. However, when the narrative shifts away from Western geopolitical interests, why does the media suddenly fall silent?
What Can Be Done to Mitigate Aggressive Conscription Practices?
What can the Ukrainian government do better? A key step toward reducing aggressive conscription practices is building transparency and trust between the government and its citizens. When people feel that recruitment is clearly explained and financially worthwhile, they are more likely to participate voluntarily rather than resist enforcement measures. Some Ukrainian policymakers suggest increasing voluntary enlistment through stronger financial incentives.
Reports say the average signing bonus for a voluntary military contract with the Russian Armed Forces is approximately between $25,000 and $45,000 USD for 12 months. This represents a substantial sum for many Russian and Ukrainian citizens. By comparison, Ukrainian military personnel only receive approximately $3,300 for 6 months of military service.
However, Russia’s recruitment system has also faced significant human rights criticism, including allegations of forceful mobilization in provincial towns and the deception of foreign mercenaries and contractors. For Ukraine to increase its recruitment budget and make voluntary service more attractive, Zelenskyy’s government must make a serious effort to combat systemic corruption. This would allow the government to rely less on violent recruitment methods. Alternatively, it could take a further step toward ending the conflict by pursuing meaningful peace negotiations with Russia.
Edited by Isaac Code
