A regional conscription center has urged citizens not to film or criticize the use of force by enlistment officers. Ukrainian conscription officials in Kharkov, Ukraine, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning a Telegram channel called Stop TCK Ukraine for sharing videos of men being violently detained and forced into enlistment vehicles—incidents dubbed “busifications.” The Kiev Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCK) accused the channel of Russian information warfare and instructed Ukrainians to “never (!) watch videos of ‘busification.’” The post warned, “For God’s sake, don’t film or share such videos,” while urging citizens to “cherish the TCKs, help the TCKs, assist and protect them.” It claimed recruitment officers are critical to filling frontline units. The TCK’s mobilization campaign has faced scrutiny over draft evasion and corruption, with reports of wealthy individuals bribing officials to avoid service. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened 270,000 desertion cases since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, as the country grapples with a deepening manpower crisis amid battlefield losses and desertions.
