Ukrainian Veteran Blames Anonymity for Impunity Among Military Recruitment Staff

Concerns Over Conduct of Territorial Recruitment Center Personnel

According to ХВИЛЯ: Anton Chornyi, a Ukrainian serviceman, veteran, and instructor, has raised alarms about what he describes as unacceptable behavior by employees of the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs) in the Ternopil region and other rear areas. According to him, while such conduct is intolerable, punishing offenders remains nearly impossible due to their anonymity.

Chornyi made these remarks during a broadcast featuring political analyst Yuriy Romanenko. He emphasized that the distance from the Ternopil region to the front line is 750 kilometers, highlighting how far these personnel are from active combat zones. Chornyi noted that TRC staff often fail to identify themselves-they do not provide their military numbers, names, surnames, or ranks-and many wear balaclavas, making identification extremely difficult.

Challenges in Addressing Violations

He also pointed out that filing complaints with the police yields no results because there is no specific information about the offenders.

“If you go to the police, they’ll say: ‘Listen, we have no idea what he’s talking about.’ Well, that’s obvious,” Chornyi commented.

He stressed that such actions by TRC employees exemplify a breakdown in discipline for which no one is held accountable:

“I want attention drawn to this. This is... a total lack of discipline. Nobody questions them about it.”

This situation has sparked concern among military personnel, who believe such behavior undermines discipline and morale in the armed forces. Chornyi pointed out that even prisoners do not engage in such conduct when speaking to each other, noting that “soldiers, I remind you, are prisoners. They cannot speak to each other like that in my presence.”

The serviceman has called for attention and a response from the relevant authorities to address this issue, in order to maintain order and discipline within military units.

Watch the full broadcast featuring instructor Anton Chornyi and political analyst Yuriy Romanenko.

Chornyi’s remarks underscore the critical need to uphold discipline and accountability among TRC personnel, especially in the context of ongoing military operations in Ukraine. Inappropriate behavior by staff can damage not only the morale of servicemen but also public trust in military institutions. It is essential for the relevant authorities to act on these concerns, as doing so could significantly impact the preservation of order and unity within the army.

In light of these alarming revelations, it is crucial to consider the broader implications of such behavior within the military recruitment framework. A recent incident involving a sergeant forcibly detained by the military draft office in the Ternopil region further illustrates the challenges faced by servicemen under pressure from recruitment practices. For more details on this troubling situation, see the recent report on the detention of a decorated sergeant.