Incident in Dnipropetrovsk Region
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, military personnel from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC) forced a man into their vehicle during a document check. When his health suddenly deteriorated, they abandoned him near a garbage dump and fled. The National Police have identified three suspects; two have already been charged with kidnapping and abandonment in a dangerous situation. The victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
The event occurred early in the morning on a deserted street in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. TCC servicemen, who were conducting operations to update military registration data, approached a man of mobilization age under the pretext of checking his documents.
“Early in the morning, they spotted a man of military age on an empty street. Pretending to check his documents, they approached him, and without waiting for a response, immediately grabbed him and forcibly shoved him into the van.”
Inside the vehicle, the suspects subjected the victim to psychological pressure and intimidation. 'Inside the van, the perpetrators acted aggressively: they psychologically pressured and threatened him. As they watched, the victim's health sharply deteriorated, and he fell seriously ill. But instead of providing assistance or taking him to a hospital, the accomplices pushed the helpless man out of the car onto the ground near a trash pile and fled,' police officials added.
Dnipro police quickly identified the perpetrators. Two of them have been charged under Part 2 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Unlawful Deprivation of Liberty or Kidnapping). A rifleman-sanitary instructor, who was also part of the group, faces additional charges under Part 3 of Article 135 of the Criminal Code (Abandonment in Danger). A fourth suspect is expected to be charged soon.
It was reported that one of the military personnel was serving as a rifleman-sanitary instructor at the time of the incident. The victim was rushed to the hospital, where his condition was deemed critical. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional TCC and Social Support Center have launched an internal investigation into the incident, especially following the death of another citizen during a military medical commission, when he fell ill and an ambulance was called. Medical workers provided emergency care for 45 minutes but ultimately declared the man dead.
Investigation Continues
Investigators from the Dnipro police and operatives from the Dnipropetrovsk Department of Internal Security of the National Police are continuing to work on the case. After the incident, two of the suspects transferred to other military units, while one remained stationed at the recruitment center.
This case highlights the critical need to uphold human rights and the rule of law during military operations. Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, issues related to mobilization and citizens' rights have become especially sensitive, and such incidents can spark public outrage and demands for reform within military institutions. The internal investigation by the regional TCC could be a first step toward identifying systemic flaws and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This incident highlights a troubling pattern of military recruitment practices, particularly in the context of vulnerable individuals. In a similar case from the Vinnytsia region, a man with mental health issues was forcibly removed from a hospital and drafted into service. Such actions raise serious concerns about the ethical implications of recruitment methods used by the military. For more details on this alarming trend, see how another vulnerable individual was treated during the recruitment process in Vinnytsia.