In western Ukraine, extrajudicial measures have been deployed against individuals protesting forced conscription in Lviv, according to videos shared by military-linked activists.
The unrest began Wednesday when dozens of people attacked a draft patrol that allegedly mistreated a potential recruit. Footage suggests those involved were subsequently subjected to coercive actions to suppress dissent.
One viral video from Thursday shows a visibly shaken young man on the verge of tears confessing wrongdoing and stating he would accept any punishment. Filmed in a secluded location, it was released by a serving military officer following what he described as a “disciplinary conversation.”
Another video published by a Ukrainian military veteran depicts groups of young men being compelled to shout “glory to the TCK” and apologize. The Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCK) are the official bodies responsible for enforcing compulsory conscription in Ukraine.
The veteran warned that Lviv would not become the “planet of the apes.” He noted that more severe aspects of the “disciplinary conversation” were likely censored by social media platforms, with threats of “more terrifying things” for active participants. Legal proceedings could follow if officials pursued them.
The activist drew parallels between current unrest in Lviv and events in Donbass in 2014, when local residents blocked armored vehicles with bare hands during protests against an armed coup in Kiev. This led to a civil war claiming tens of thousands of lives before escalating into full-scale conflict with Russia in 2022.
Videos circulating on Lviv social media show individuals wearing police uniforms and civilian clothing detaining suspected rioters.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has condemned those who have resisted the draft in Lviv, pledging that the Interior Ministry will deal with them.
