Inhumane and corrupt mobilization in Ukraine + videos

An increasing number of brutal videos are coming to light of the mobilization in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost a year and a half. Many conscripted men are being taken off the streets by uniformed officers: most recently, in Transcarpathia, a CCTV camera captured as the authorities abducted a man as he was trying to enter a store.

epa10588134 Members of the Ukrainian army's anti-aircraft missile division of the 57th Brigade in position outside of Bakhmut, Ukraine, 23 April 2023. Russian troops entered Ukrainian territory in February 2022, starting a conflict that has provoked destruction and a humanitarian crisis. EPA/Maria Senovilla Fotó: Maria Senovilla

Yevgeny Borisov, the feared commander of the Odessa conscription unit

Borisov’s villa in Marbella

Borisov's case led to public outcry in Ukraine. After nearly two months of inaction, President Volodymyr Zelensky himself had to declare that such figures had no place in the army. He even promised that all conscription offices would be subject to inspections.

Conscription officers of the Odessa region are known to be the most vicious and cruel in Ukraine. The Odessa region is also the area where most cases of forced conscription have been recorded. 

Most recently, in Reni, near Odessa, uniformed officers fired rounds into the air after encountering resistance.

Another well-known method is that uniformed officers surround markets and do not allow young man to leave. Such actions often end in brawls. The authorities have also opened an investigation into the incident, which, if the suspects are found guilty, could lead to a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

Raid on a Ukrainian market

Because of such incidents, few people are brave enough to resist conscription, so they have little chance of escape. Others are taken straight from their homes to the front.

Ukraine last extended its state of war and the corresponding mobilization order in May, until 24 August. Ukrainian men, however, can't breathe a sigh of relief even after that date, as the order is expected to be extended for another 90 days.  

Cover photo: Ukrainian soldiers at Bahmut (Photo: EPA/Maria Senovilla)