The wounded man was forced to remove the bullet himself: the SBI exposed the brutal methods used by recruitment center staff

In Bukovyna, a group of people suspected of torturing and unlawfully depriving military-age men of their liberty, as well as receiving an undue benefit, has been exposed. Those involved include the head of one of the departments of the Chernivtsi District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centre, four of his subordinates, and a law enforcement officer.

The State Bureau of Investigation and the prosecutor’s office reported the arrests and investigation on October 30, 2026. According to the SBI, the arrests were made with the assistance of the leadership of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The prosecutor’s office said investigators documented four instances of unlawful conduct during mobilisation activities between July and September 2026.

One such incident took place in July in the village of Mamaivtsi. According to investigators, servicemen beat a man who was trying to get out of a car, then took him to the recruitment centre against his will and held him there for subsequent mobilisation.

Two more incidents were recorded on September 16 in Chernivtsi. In one case, according to investigators, a serviceman received €5,500 to help a man who was wanted for violating military registration rules avoid mobilisation. The man’s mother handed over the money, after which her son was released. That same day, another man refused to show his documents. According to investigators, he was sprayed with an irritant, forcibly taken to the recruitment centre, and sustained minor bodily injuries there.

The next incident took place on September 30 in Chernivtsi. According to the prosecutor’s office, a father of three who had a lawful deferment from mobilisation was detained. On the way, he was threatened with a pistol and struck in the torso at least four times. Despite his deferment, mobilisation measures against him continued.

The SBI also reported other circumstances being investigated as part of the case. In particular, investigators established details of a high-profile incident that came to light in early February 2026. During the detention of a man liable for military service, a traumatic weapon was used, causing a leg wound. Despite his injury, he was taken to the recruitment centre. According to investigators, the victim was not given the necessary medical care there; instead, he was pressured to remove the bullet from his wound himself.

Another incident concerns the alleged abduction of a man on September 30, 2026, following a personal dispute with certain recruitment centre officials. According to the case materials, he was being followed, and when he approached a pedestrian crossing, he was forcibly pulled into a car. The victim was a combat veteran. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, he had defended Ukraine and fought for Kyiv, Irpin, and Bakhmut.

On October 21, 2026, SBI officers arrested those involved during a special operation. According to the prosecutor’s office, a total of six people were notified of suspicion: five servicemen from the district recruitment centre and a law enforcement officer.

The head of the recruitment centre department and three of his subordinates are charged with unlawfully depriving a person of their liberty or abducting them, in concert with a group, and causing the victim physical suffering. The charge falls under Part 2 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Four subordinates were also notified of suspicion of receiving an undue benefit in concert with a group — Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Two of them are additionally charged with torture committed by a state representative — Part 3 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

At the prosecutors’ request, five suspects were remanded in custody. The court ordered two of them to be held without the right to bail. Another suspect was placed under house arrest. The head of the recruitment centre department was suspended from his duties. The most severe penalty under the charges carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison. Law enforcement officers are continuing to investigate possible further instances of misconduct by officials and identify people who may have been harmed by their actions.

The prosecutor’s office urges people to report any known cases of unlawful detention, violence, or extortion of money by recruitment centre staff in Kitsman.

We previously reported:

• What recruitment centres are not allowed to do to you — explained by Lubinets
• Intensive care instead of a medical commission: man alleges he was beaten at a recruitment centre in Cherkasy region
• SBU colonel alleges he was beaten at a recruitment centre and UAH 55,000 went missing
• “Honest conscription” begins with searches: law enforcement officers inspect more than 100 recruitment centres
• Nine men from a district recruitment centre detained in Odesa region on suspicion of torturing and sexually abusing men liable for military service