Recently, cases of attacks on employees of territorial picking centers (TCC) have become more frequent in Ukraine. These incidents became a mirror of profound social changes that took place during the three years of the war. At its beginning, the military commanded the Ukrainians’ unquestionable respect, because they became the country’s shield that deters the enemy. But over time, the public attitude began to stratify: the respectful attitude towards those who fight at the front remained unchanged, but trust in the representatives of the TCC gradually turned into open hostility.
People are increasingly asking: why do those who are formally part of the country’s defense system show so much aggression towards their own citizens? Where does this hatred that spills over into violence, intimidation and humiliation come from? And can it be justified by war? What was unthinkable a few years ago – physical conflicts between Ukrainians and the military – has become part of reality today.
A series of attacks on TCC: explosions, shootings and physical violence
In recent days, Ukraine has been shaken by a series of attacks on TCC employees. And if earlier such cases were reported occasionally, now they are becoming more and more frequent and brutal. On February 2, in Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk region, an explosion rang out near the building of the territorial center of recruitment and social support. As a result, one person was injured. The day before, on February 1, there was another explosion in the military commissariat in Rivne. This time he took the life of one person, six more were injured. But the loudest incident happened the same night in Pyryatin: at a gas station, an attacker opened fire on a TCC soldier, shot him dead, and then fled with the mobilized man he was accompanying. Two suspects were detained on the same day.
It should be noted that attacks on representatives of the TCC took place before, but did not lead to murder. For example, in March 2024, in the Vyzhnytskyi district of the Chernivtsi region, local residents attacked employees of the TCC with axes. In addition, in various regions of the country, the cars of the mobilizers were on fire. Physical conflicts, threats, fights – all this has already become a part of everyday reality.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky sharply condemned the recent events, calling them “shameful acts of violence.”
“Violence against military personnel is unacceptable. We expect a full and comprehensive investigation of these crimes. The guilty must suffer the well-deserved punishment. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are doing everything possible to protect our state and the Ukrainian people. In the conditions of a full-scale war, this is impossible without mobilization measures.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are doing everything to prevent human rights violations during mobilization activities. The ground forces are trying to overcome existing problems in the work of the TCC, correct errors, and work on improving the quality of the work of the TCC. However, the national defense of Ukraine is impossible without national support for the army and respect for military personnel. I am grateful to everyone who supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine and everyone who respects Ukrainian soldiers.” – it is stated in statements Syrsky.
The commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapaty also commented on the attack on TCC employees. He emphasized that killings of soldiers in the rear is a red line, which
«We do not have the right to silently observe the growing wave of contempt for the defenders of Ukraine – this is beyond the limit of what can be tolerated.” – says Drapaty.
At the same time, the NSDC said that the Russian Federation could be behind the attacks, which is thus trying to increase internal tension in the country. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Counter-Disinformation Center at the NSDC, said that the three latest attacks on the military are planned operations coordinated by the GRU of the Russian Federation and the FSB. According to him, Russia not only organizes these attacks, but also actively conducts an information campaign aimed at undermining mobilization and forming a negative attitude towards the military. Kovalenko noted that although such information attacks have been ongoing since 2022, since 2024, the Russian Federation has significantly increased its activity in social networks, through bloggers and bots, in order to further inflame tensions within the country.
Artur Palatny, the first deputy head of the UDAR party, also condemned the attacks on the military stated, that responsibility for them should be tougher. He emphasized that anyone who raises a hand against a military serviceman must understand the irreversibility of the punishment. According to him, previous cases of attacks left the impression that such actions could go unpunished, and the enemy took advantage of this.
“Society is artificially opposed to the military. This is an information war being waged by Russia, and this process must be stopped immediately. Responsibility for attacks on defenders should be strengthened. Any violence against the military should be punished most severely.” Palatny said.
He also emphasized that this problem goes far beyond attacks on specific individuals. This is a threat to the entire country, because the military holds the front, and attacks on them are actually a blow to Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
“The authorities must act, and act immediately. We cannot allow chaos to engulf the country. If there is no quick reaction, this situation will get out of control.” – stressed the deputy head of UDAR.
From queues to explosions: how TCCs became targets and what it means for the country
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, there was no way to push through the territorial assembly centers. People came themselves, asked to be sent to the front, called familiar military commissars, looked for an opportunity to join the ranks of the defenders. Among them were men of military age, veterans, women, even elderly people, medical students who offered their help. Seventeen-year-old youths also came, realizing that the country was in mortal danger. However, three years later, instead of queues, there were attacks, explosions, shootings, burning cars, fights in the streets, and now murder. So, society’s attitude towards TCC has changed radically, and there are significant reasons for that.
People who did not go to the front voluntarily are “busified” – they are violently grabbed on the streets, force is used, violating laws and the rights of citizens, they are forced to sign summonses, they are loaded into cars like criminals. New videos appear on social networks every day, where men are tried to be forcibly dragged to the TCC, at bus stops, near shops, in the middle of the street. Violence, rudeness, indifference – all this gradually turned into a system.
That is why Ukrainians already call TCC employees not military, but “manhunters”. Yesterday’s heroes, who wrote volunteers in their notebooks, have now turned into those who force people into military vehicles. And this is the biggest tragedy of this situation – many of them fought themselves, risked their lives, lost their brothers. They defended the country, they knew what the front was, they fought precisely for these people who are now being tracked on the streets. But instead of mutual respect in society, an abyss filled with hatred, contempt and fear arose.
It should be noted that opinions about the attacks on TCCs among politicians, experts and ordinary Ukrainians turned out to be very controversial – from calls for harsh punishment of the attackers to despairing thoughts about how the country came to this in the first place. Some unequivocally condemn the attacks on the military commissars, stressing that without mobilization, the front runs the risk of being left without fresh forces, and therefore without defense. They insist that TCCs perform an important function, and attacks on them are a blow to the entire defense system of the country.
At the same time, the other part of the society has an extremely negative attitude towards the working methods of the TCC. At the same time, the main trigger was the wearing of balaclavas, which many perceive as a sign of impunity and a desire to avoid responsibility. Some say directly: balaclavas are needed so that no one can see faces and take revenge. This only strengthens the hatred and mistrust of the mobilisers. There are also those who sympathize with the rigidity of the TCC employees, because they know that if they do not fulfill the mobilization plan, they may find themselves at the front. In this context, their aggression acquires a new meaning – they fight not only for the execution of orders, but also for their own survival.
It should be mentioned that employees of territorial procurement centers were allowed to open fire on damage. This decision was made after an armed attack on the security post of the Lutsk OMTCC and SP, which took place in the middle of the night. After this incident, the military commissars were given a clear instruction: in the event of a threat, they can use weapons without warning. This radically changes the situation, because previously TCC employees, even under conditions of aggression against them, were limited in their actions. Now any attempt to attack or force resistance can end in instant massacre.
This decision raises many questions, because it further exacerbates the tension between citizens and military commissars. On the one hand, TCCs are trying to protect their employees after a series of attacks, on the other hand, increasing the powers of security forces often leads to abuses. What this permission will mean in reality and what its consequences are will become clear in the near future.
So, the division in society, as in any other issue, is obvious. Some consider the TCC a necessary evil, without which the army cannot fight, others consider it a punitive apparatus that has turned into a symbol of violence and lawlessness. And until the state finds an answer to this question, the conflict will only intensify. However, this is not just a conflict between citizens and TCC employees, but a much deeper problem that threatens the stability of the country as a whole. And the authorities should have thought about it earlier, because analysts have repeatedly warned about it. At the same time, it is extremely dangerous that society loses its internal unity even more. Even yesterday, Ukrainians supported the army unconditionally, today they begin to hate those who should have been part of it.
The state still does not have a clear mobilization strategy, and this is one of the biggest problems that had to be solved yesterday. At the same time, the main task that is constantly on the agenda is overcoming corruption. From the very beginning, it was necessary to make the mobilization fair, so that society could see that the law is one for all, and not selective for those who do not have the “right” connections or money.
The absurdity of the situation is that the military is involved in detaining people, checking documents and force operations, although this is not their function. They should protect the country on the battlefield, not grab civilians at bus stops or in yards. In addition, they almost forgot that the military does not control civilians – only after a prize does a person become under the control of the army.
Another problem is the very structure of the TCC, whose employees should not be part of the Armed Forces, because their task is administration, not military command. It should be a separate structure within the Ministry of Defense. And the most important thing is that two-thirds of the military personnel of the TCC, who are able to fight due to their health, should fill the ranks of combat brigades, and not engage in “hunting” for those mobilized in the rear. This decision is not just overdue, it is long overdue. What we see now is that when the authorities turn mobilization into a hunt, society begins to resist. Explosions and attacks are not a coincidence, but a predictable response to a systemic crisis. And if the authorities do not understand this now, the consequences can be much more serious than attacks on representatives of the TCC.
