Dmytro Lubinets spoke about numerous complaints of Ukrainians about the actions of the CCC, the Military Medical Commission, the MSEC, as well as the violation of the rights of the military 

Violation of the rights of military personnel, veterans, their families, and the civilian population in wartime conditions is becoming an increasingly urgent issue for Ukrainian society. The acuteness of this problem is manifested in numerous complaints against the actions of the TCC, military medical commissions (MMC), as well as in the appeals of active servicemen and relatives of prisoners. The Ombudsman of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets actively responds to these challenges, working to protect the rights of citizens in the conditions of war, which changed not only the usual life of Ukrainians, but also the burden on state institutions. Dmytro Lubinets told about the scale of the problems, the number of appeals, the efficiency of their team and the need for changes in the system.

Dmytro Lubinets emphasized that the Office of the Ombudsman constantly receives statements and appeals from citizens regarding the actions of the TCC and JV. According to him, almost 4,000 appeals related to violations during mobilization were received this year. The Ombudsman noted that this number is constantly growing. Thanks to the expansion of response capabilities, its representatives now work in every region of Ukraine, which allows them to quickly go to places and analyze the situation.

Lubinets also emphasized the complaints received about the actions of military medical commissions (MMC). He cited a specific case when a boy who had a certificate of illness was suddenly summoned to a repeat meeting of the VLK at night. There, he was found to be perfectly healthy, despite obvious health problems. Thanks to the submission of the ombudsman’s office, the decision was revised: a separate meeting of the VLK was convened, a full analysis was conducted and it was confirmed that the boy really has the disease. After that, he was sent to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to serve in the logistics direction, and a specific position in the unit was immediately found for him.

Unfortunately, such cases are not unique, and the number of appeals far exceeds the capabilities of the Ombudsman’s office. According to Lubinets, his department for the protection of citizens’ rights in the security and defense sector currently employs only 35 people. At the same time, they receive not only appeals for mobilization, but also numerous applications from active servicemen, families of prisoners of war and veterans. In total, during the year, the Office of the Ombudsman received more than 26,000 appeals in this direction.

Lubinets emphasized that this overload is connected with the fact that the ombudsman institution is designed to work in peacetime. He noted that he appealed to the government and parliament to pay attention to this problem. The ombudsman’s office, which is the only constitutional body of parliamentary oversight, is underfunded and ranks in the second half of the list of public bodies in terms of salary. However, despite these limitations, his team does everything possible to ensure effective protection of citizens’ rights.

The ombudsman emphasized that their work is not limited only to checking complaints. All appeals are carefully reviewed, fact-checked and followed up with legal action if necessary. The team actively cooperates with the Ministry of Defense, the Military Law Enforcement Service and other authorities to achieve justice.

Dmytro Lubinets also described in detail the situation with the violation of citizens’ rights during mobilization, the work of military medical commissions (MMC) and the treatment of military personnel and veterans. He emphasized that of the complaints received by his office, the facts of violations are confirmed in approximately 50% of cases. In some regions, the situation looks more threatening: the number of complaints and confirmations of violations is higher, while in other areas such appeals are either few or most of them are not confirmed. For example, Transcarpathia is the region where the largest number of appeals regarding violations by TCCs and SPs were recorded. In this region, a large part of the complaints are confirmed, especially regarding the indecent treatment of the mobilized.

In Kropyvnytskyi, on the contrary, the number of appeals is relatively small, and most of them are not confirmed. Lubinets noted that this situation is related to the professionalism of the regional head, who is responsible for organizing the work of the TCC. Where the manager builds work transparently and efficiently, there are significantly fewer complaints, and citizens’ rights are quickly restored in the event of their violation. Instead, in some regions there is indifference to the law, which leads to criminal proceedings, searches and detentions. According to Lubinets, he regularly sends relevant documents to law enforcement agencies, including the SBI, the National Police, and the SBU. In each case, his submission is taken into account and considered, as it contains detailed information about the alleged offenses.

Separately, Lubinets emphasized numerous complaints related to corruption in the VLK and MSEK (Medical and Social Expert Commission). People report cases where obtaining a legal decision required the payment of bribes. In 2024, the number of such appeals doubled compared to the previous year. At the same time, the reaction of law enforcement agencies to these facts became more operative. The ombudsman actively cooperates with law enforcement agencies, providing them with the necessary information, and monitors that each appeal is handled properly.

As for the appeals from the military, they concern, in particular, denials of legitimate payments, violation of the right to vacations and inappropriate treatment by commanders. Lubinets noted that the number of such appeals increased significantly in 2024, which, in his opinion, indicates increased trust in the ombudsman institution. He emphasized that all submissions are carefully considered, and on this issue there is also feedback from the Ministry of Defense, which responds to such cases. Thanks to this, citizens are sure that their appeals are not ignored.