"After captivity — beaten at home": a released serviceman reported an attack by people in balaclavas

Military serviceman Dmytro Kashchuk, who was released from Russian captivity, reported an attack in Odesa by unidentified men in balaclavas and dark uniforms without identification marks. According to him, the attackers could have been employees of the TCC, however their involvement has not been officially confirmed and is being verified.

Kashchuk told about the incident on the air of the “USI:Odesa” channel. According to the serviceman, the event occurred on April 21, when he stepped out of the entrance of his building to drive and pick up a girlfriend from work. At that moment a minibus stopped nearby and several men in balaclavas ran out.

Kashchuk claims they demanded to see his documents but did not respond to his explanation that he had been through Russian captivity and has a disability. After they saw the status “military liable” in the “Reserve+” app, the man says he was forcibly put into the vehicle.

The serviceman said he was driven around the city for about 20 minutes, his phone and keys were taken, he was hit in the face and threatened. He also emphasized that he tried to explain his status and state of health.

Dmytro Kashchuk said that during the conversation in the car the attackers asked him about his illnesses and disability group.

“They ask: ‘What are you sick with?’. I say: ‘Well, third group [of disability].’ [One says]: ‘That’s it, you’ll go to the brigade.’ I say: ‘But I’m from captivity. I can’t go anywhere unless I want to,'” Kashchuk says.

In the serviceman’s view, the men did not immediately understand how to check documents in the app. Later, according to him, they realized that he was not subject to mobilization, after which, swearing, they put him out of the minibus and drove off.

After the incident Dmytro Kashchuk contacted the police and filed a report on abduction. Later, he said, he was informed that the report had been forwarded to the regional TCC, but they allegedly stated they had not received any documents. After that the serviceman filed a separate complaint directly to the TCC, where he was promised that the appeal would be reviewed and a response sent by mail.

According to Kashchuk, what happened in Odesa was a shock for him precisely because after Russian captivity he did not expect such treatment at home, in Ukraine.

“I endured a lot of stress there (in captivity — ed.). But there it’s clear. Here I did not expect to step out of the entrance and be thrown into a car and beaten, even though everything is on my phone. I understand if I had been rude to them, swearing, boasting that I came from captivity and I’m ‘king and god’. But just like that… I did not expect that,” Kashchuk says.

According to “USI:Odesa”, Dmytro Kashchuk voluntarily went to the front in 2023, fought on the Donetsk front, was captured by the Russians, and returned to Ukraine during an exchange in May 2025.

The Odesa Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support stated that they received an appeal from Kashchuk regarding possible wrongful actions as early as April 23, 2026. The report is currently being processed and checked.

The TCC reported that they are trying to identify the people and vehicles that may have been involved in the incident. At the same time they emphasized that, according to the claimant himself, the participants in the attack were in balaclavas and without identification marks, so their affiliation with the TCC and SS units is the subject of an internal investigation.

The institution also reported cooperation with law enforcement agencies to establish all the circumstances. If the guilt of officials is confirmed, the TCC promises to respond accordingly.

The Odesa Regional TCC and SS stressed that the appeal of the serviceman released from captivity is under special control.

“We hold defenders of Ukraine, especially those who have been through captivity, in deep respect. The consideration of this report is under special control. Thorough examination of the circumstances is a priority, since the legal assessment of the incident is based solely on the results of official checks,” the TCC says, adding that if the guilt of officials is confirmed they will be punished.

Reminder, earlier we wrote:

• Didn’t show documents but saw the avenue and a fight: a new conflict with the TCC in Mykolaiv
• Two employees detained at the Mykolaiv TCC over an “Oberih” registry fraud
• Without strengthening mobilization there will be no change in service terms, says the military ombudswoman
• Released from Russian captivity servicemen receive an expanded package of payments and benefits from the state
• A TCC employee in Mykolaiv is suspected of beating a man liable for military service