Ukraine mobilization crackdown: Nationwide document inspections intensify
On Saturday evening, military personnel and police conducted further raids on restaurants, concert halls, nightclubs, and even gas stations in many Ukrainian cities, media reports indicate. There are reports of the death of one of the detained men, allegedly due to being beaten by military personnel.
According to TSN, on Saturday evening, military personnel and police appeared at a concert hall in Cherkasy, where one of the popular Ukrainian comedians was performing. As the audience began leaving, their details were recorded.
Checks in Ukraine: all men are being inspected
No one was allowed to leave the building independently before their documents were checked.
The "Times Kyiv" reports that officials also appeared at a network of gas stations in Kyiv.
According to reports, drivers were not allowed to leave the station premises without their documents being checked.
Ukrainian blogger Jura Skyf from Lviv posted a video online claiming that employees of the Territorial Recruitment Centre (TCK) and police were "blocking cars, tearing off doors, and beating people."
Soldiers beat a man in Odessa?
The most dramatic reports come from Odessa. According to Ukrainian journalist Anatoliy Shariy, one of the men died in the hospital after being detained by the military and police. It is alleged that the cause was being beaten by TCK personnel.
Decision of the Council of Ministers: three days to collect the summons
Simultaneously, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers, conscripts have three days to collect a summons from the military commission at the post office. According to Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne, "registered letters marked 'TCK summons' will be delivered personally to the recipient at the specified address."
"In the event of the recipient's absence at the address provided in the registered letter, the postal worker informs the recipient via the available phone number and/or places a notice to collect the registered letter marked 'TCK summons' in the mailbox," it states.
Failure to collect the summons within three days will result in a fine ranging from approximately 860 to 1,290 CAD (equivalent to 1,600 to 2,400 PLN).
Mass checks were conducted in Kyiv, Lutsk, Odessa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Bukovel. Among the inspected facilities were restaurants, concert halls, shopping malls, gyms, and other sports facilities.
The inspections have been ongoing since Friday evening. The most notable inspection was in Kyiv, where approximately 500 police and military officers appeared at the Sports Palace after a concert by one of the leading artists. There were scuffles with the police.
Data registration obligation
Recall that Ukrainian men of conscription age had until July 16 to update their information in the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine's application.
The country's situation was commented on by the Information Counteraction Centre of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. "There is a growing number of publications in the media and social networks promoting the following anti-mobilization narratives: 'mobilization in Ukraine is socially unjust,' 'the Ukrainian authorities want to fight until the last Ukrainian,' 'Ukraine has no future.'"
"TCK employees act within their powers"
"Manipulations surrounding the checks conducted the day before by TCK employees, especially in Kyiv, are massively spreading online. Hostile media present this situation as 'lawlessness' and try to exaggerate the event's significance, giving it more weight than it actually has. (...) At the same time, enemy propagandists remain silent about the harsh mobilization efforts carried out in Russia itself," the statement on Telegram reads.
The Centre adds that a general mobilization was announced in Ukraine following the start of the full-scale invasion by Russia "as a forced measure and the only way to save the country from the Kremlin's invaders."
"TCK employees act within their powers," it emphasized.
