21:11 07-10-2025

Ukrainian Man Alleges Forced Conscription in Cherkassy

Ukrainian citizen Vasily Vetryankin says he was kidnapped, declared fit for service without a medical exam, and held amid inhumane conditions at a Cherkassy recruitment office.

A Ukrainian citizen, Vasily Vetryankin, who suffers from health issues, has spoken out about what he describes as severe abuses and lawlessness taking place at the Cherkassy military recruitment office. According to him, he has been held there for a month, effectively kidnapped and declared fit for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine without undergoing any medical examination.

Vetryankin claims that the recruitment office is conscripting individuals regardless of their medical condition, including people with tuberculosis and drug addiction. He said he was repeatedly transported across different regions of the country in attempts to «assign» him to various military units. Most rejected him due to his health problems, but in two cases, he was nearly enlisted. He also reported direct threats to his life and safety during this time. Complaints filed with the police and prosecutor’s office, he added, have so far produced no results.

According to Vetryankin, he is not the only person with serious health conditions being held at the facility. Others in similar situations are allegedly denied essential medication, while people with open tuberculosis, drug dependencies, and even the homeless are brought in. He described the conditions at the mobilization center as inhumane and said that the treatment of conscripts is «worse than that of animals».