The case involving the abduction of a man by TCC fighters and civilians has been referred to court

PHOTO: Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office

Investigators have referred to court the case of three military personnel from the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, as well as the head and a member of a civic organization, who kidnapped a man and demanded $6,000 from him.

This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region.

Two illegal schemes related to draft evasion were uncovered earlier this year. The first incident involved three employees of one of the district recruitment and social support centers and a member of a public organization. While driving a minibus through the city, the latter spotted a man on Nebesna Sotnia Avenue, after which, without identifying themselves or providing any explanation, they forcibly shoved him into the vehicle. For about an hour, they drove the abducted man around the city and, claiming that he was allegedly wanted for violating mobilization laws, demanded $6,000 from him in exchange for his release and not being taken to the TCC. To force the victim to pay, they used physical force against him and threatened to send him to the front lines. After receiving the specified amount from the conscript, the perpetrators were detained in accordance with legal procedure.

In addition, during the investigation, police established the involvement of a member of a civic organization and its leader in yet another illegal scheme. According to the investigation, the leader sought out men of draft age, including those wanted for evading mobilization, and offered assistance in avoiding conscription in exchange for illicit benefits. In particular, law enforcement officers documented how he promised one “client” that, for $1,500, he would sell a membership card for the civic organization and exert influence on officials at the Territorial Recruitment Center and the Military Registration and Enlistment Office, with whom he allegedly had connections. In the event of non-payment, he threatened negative consequences. A subordinate responsible for personal meetings with conscripts received full payment from the client one day for the services promised by the boss, and the very next day handed over the certificate of membership in a civic organization and assured him that the boss would definitely intervene with the TCC to ensure that no mobilization measures were taken against the man.

In July 2024, the Center for Public Investigations released a film titled “Guarding the Odessa Cauldron”about civil defense units. It combined three investigative reports on over 30 civil formations, including the NGO “Ukraine Is a Mother”:

As early as September 2024, following an investigation by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIP), prosecutors exposed the deputy head of the"Law Enforcement Support Unit" civic group forcorruption. He is suspected of aiding in the evasion of mobilization of conscripts.

One of the detainees is under round-the-clock house arrest, while the other four were remanded in pretrial detention. However, two had the right to post bail, which they exercised.

Currently, the detainees are charged with:

unlawful deprivation of liberty committed for personal gain, by prior conspiracy of a group of individuals, in a manner dangerous to the life or health of the victim;
extortion, committed by a group of individuals acting in concert, which caused significant harm to the victim, combined with violence dangerous to the life or health of a person, committed under martial law;
a public official obtaining an unlawful benefit for themselves by influencing the decision-making of a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with the extortion of such a benefit, as well as aiding and abetting such actions.

Under current law, the maximum penalty for these crimes is 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Кирило Бойко

Odesa SBU TCC ta SP police prosecutor's office war