In the middle of a war, Ukraine’s soldiers are facing more than just Russian fire. Draft officers are being assaulted in the streets, and veteran Vasyl Krupych found himself beaten while chasing draft‑dodgers in December.
The attacks have become "regular," Ukraine’s military ombudswoman says after a National Police Service report counting over 600 assaults on recruiters. The violence includes stabbings, beatings and riot‑style clashes—most recently a 200‑person riot in Lviv that smashed a registration bus.
A new term, "busification", explains why the street fights are happening. Russian‑approved mobile patrols push men into buses, with police on standby. When men refuse, the patrol turns into a confrontation. The result: urban streets becoming battlegrounds.
Other victims of the propaganda‑laced violence include a university professor, Kyrylo Ogdansky, who was beaten despite an exemption from the draft. He has filed complaints but hesitated to speak publicly, fearing political backlash.
The problem started before the change in defence leadership. Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov introduced early reforms—fixed‑term contracts, higher pay for risky roles—but was sacked after clashes with President Zelensky. As a caretaker minister now sits in the role, no new rewrite of conscription is in sight.
Vasyl Krupych, a serving soldier, was assaulted while out searching for draft dodgers
