Ukrainian soldiers and conscription officers are facing a spate of violent attacks, turning recruitment into a frontline issue.

Vasyl Krupych, a veteran soldier who first served at the start of the war, was beaten by two draft officers wielding a crowbar while searching for would‑be draft‑dodgers. He spent six weeks recovering from broken ribs and severe breathing problems. Krupych recalls, ‘What did we fight for, if soldiers can now get beaten?”

The National Police Service reports that more than 600 assaults on recruitment officers have been recorded to date, a figure that has risen steadily in what officials describe as a “major problem.”

To address persistent manpower losses, military analyst Ivan Stupak explains that Ukraine’s high command has turned to what the country calls “busification” – gathering men onto buses for mandatory service. In a recent interview, Stupak said, “When we need an extra 5,000 men, we start grabbing them – and if they refuse it turns into fights on the street.”

Political leaders have also taken a sharp turn. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned violence against serving soldiers in response to a riot in Lviv, and later sacked Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for clashing over the conscription strategy. Fedorov had begun reforms to make military service more attractive, but his dismissal has stalled progress.

The crisis extends beyond assaults on recruiters. Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner logged over 6,000 complaints last year, including claims of abuse and unlawful detention by recruiting officials. One university professor, exempt from the draft, was attacked by recruiters on a city street and subsequently spent two weeks in hospital with injuries to his neck and bruised eyes.

‘Everyone is afraid to die’ – a sentiment voiced by Krupych – reflects a growing war fatigue that undermines mobilisation efforts. As the country struggles to fill frontline vacancies, the escalation of violence threatens to further erode morale and intensify the insecurity felt by those who are supposed to defend their nation.

Questions for the future:

  • Can Ukraine implement better training and psychological screening for conscription officers to prevent violent confrontations?
  • What measures are needed to restore trust in the conscription system and encourage voluntary enlistment?
  • How will the government address the risk of military defeats becoming politicised and further destabilising the front lines?