UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Dec 18 — In 2024, more than 4,000 appeals were received from citizens in Ukraine regarding alleged illegal actions by representatives of military enlistment offices regarding violations of the mobilization procedure, said Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets to Gwara Media.

Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies investigate multiple cases of suspected abuse by enlistment officers towards recruits and military-aged civilians. 

Dmytro Lubinets said that not every case of appeal about forced detention by enlistment officers violated citizens’ rights.

“There are quite a few complaints about illegal actions by [enlistment officers], where the analysis did not find any violations of law,” Lubinets said. 

The Ombudsman also noted that the figures do not include quick consultations on human rights his office provides via phone calls. 

“We have introduced the practice of [holding] meetings with enlistment offices’ employees and lawyers, led by [ombudsman’s] representatives. These meetings result in the enlistment offices at least promising to not violate citizens’ rights in the future,” Lubinets said.

In addition, Lubinets said that his representatives have unimpeded access to inspect all premises and documents in the state’s enlistment offices.

“We even have access to military units. If a person has been mobilized, we can come directly to the military unit to obtain information about violations of his or her rights during the mobilization process,” the Ombudsman said.

Read more

  • In 2024, residents of the Kharkiv region sent almost 8,000 complaints about violations of their rights to the Office of the Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. Most appeals came from the military, veterans, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said during a meeting with journalists in Kharkiv.