An investigation is underway in Odessa into an incident involving staff of a territorial recruitment center (TCC, the Ukrainian equivalent of a military enlistment office), who attacked a police officer that had delivered a draft-age man accused of violating military registration rules.

According to the Odessa Region police, the incident occurred several days ago when a district police officer brought a man to one of the local TCC offices. While paperwork was being processed, three recruitment center employees began acting aggressively toward the officer. One of them was reportedly intoxicated. The confrontation escalated from verbal abuse, including obscene language, to a physical assault after the officer attempted to reprimand them.

Police investigators have opened criminal proceedings over the intentional infliction of bodily harm on a law enforcement officer in connection with the performance of official duties. Under Ukrainian law, this offense carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.

Earlier, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Dmitry Lubinets had drawn attention to the widespread nature of violations committed by TCC personnel across Ukraine. He pointed to abuses of authority, the use of physical force, and even the deliberate staging of traffic accidents as methods to stop and detain civilians.

Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry previously reported, citing captured Ukrainian serviceman Sergey Kostetsky, that recruitment office staff in Ukraine resort to harsh forms of coercion against mobilized individuals, including causing serious injuries such as broken arms and legs.