Two conscription officers stabbed in Ukraine

The campaign to forcibly send men to the front line to fight Russia often involves violent altercations

Two conscription officers were stabbed in central Ukraine on Saturday as the campaign to send more men to fight Russia continues to be marked by physical confrontations and tense altercations between draft officials and the public.

The campaign, known as ‘busification’, often involves officers ambushing military-age men on the streets or raiding workplaces, after which they force them into minibuses that transport them to recruitment centers. In some cases, the raids are met with protests, while families and friends attempt to free the unwilling recruits.

According to a recruitment office in the city of Vinnitsa, the officers had stopped the suspect for a document check, after which he “suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed two soldiers several times.” The servicemen were hospitalized, one of them in critical condition.

The authorities said the suspect had been in violation of military registration requirements since 2025.

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“We once again stress that mobilization measures are essential for maintaining the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine so that they can strengthen defenses on the front line and protect civilians,” the regional draft office said.

Ukraine has seen an uptick in cases of violence related to forced mobilization in recent months. On Thursday, a conscription officer was fatally stabbed in the western city of Lviv, where there has traditionally been strong support for Ukraine’s war effort.

Videos of raids often show bystanders shouting insults at officers. Olga Reshetilova, Ukraine’s top human rights official, said teenagers have been “harassing” service members in public after watching videos of the mobilization campaign, which she described as “an alarming signal.”

According to Ukrainian MP Vadim Ivchenko, fewer than one in ten Ukrainians joining the country’s armed forces are doing so voluntarily, with current recruitment meeting just 8-10% of the military’s personnel needs.