Assault on a Veteran in Dnipro
On January 27 in Dnipro, a 44-year-old disabled war veteran was forcibly detained and beaten by individuals in military uniforms. The victim, a former serviceman named Andrii (name changed), was forced into a minibus where he was assaulted, including blows to the head that caused him to lose consciousness. He was then dumped at an abandoned gas station near the Industrial District Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC). Hospital doctors diagnosed him with a closed head injury, a concussion, and multiple bruises, requiring a week of in-patient treatment. This disturbing incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding military recruitment in Ukraine.
Andrii's Military Service
Andrii served as an anti-aircraft missile platoon commander in the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade and later in the 82nd Brigade. He participated in the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia counteroffensives and the Kursk operation, where he was wounded. After suffering a heart attack, he was granted a third-degree disability, discharged from service, and removed from the military register. The veteran holds a state award—the presidential 'For the Defense of Ukraine' medal.
Following the incident, Andrii left the country to join his family abroad. The case was initially not entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (URPI), but on March 6, the National Police of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast opened a criminal proceeding under the article for minor bodily injuries. The Ombudsman's Office sent urgent inquiries to the Military Law Enforcement Service. The regional TRC stated that the information is being verified and that it is cooperating with law enforcement.
'For me, this is a profound humiliation. The state allows people to be humiliated—especially those who have given their health for it.'
— Andrii
Andrii also noted: 'So the fact of abduction and beating did not interest them. I served for two years in the air assault forces, was wounded, and had a heart attack—all thanks to defending our country. This is not a TRC; these are bandits. I see no point in fighting, especially at my own expense. It's easier to leave the country.'
This case has drawn attention to the problems faced by war veterans and is now under investigation by law enforcement agencies. It underscores the serious challenges veterans encounter, particularly regarding their safety and legal protection. Those who risked their lives for the country now face violence, rights violations, and a perceived lack of state support, raising concerns about how the system protects former service members and what steps will be taken to prevent future such incidents.
This incident is not an isolated case, as the ongoing struggles of veterans in Ukraine continue to make headlines. Recently, a similar case involving a veteran robbery in Kyiv has drawn attention, where the suspect faces a potential decade-long prison sentence. Such events underline the challenges faced by those who have served in the military. For more details on this related case, see the Kyiv court hearing on veteran robbery.