The Kyiv City Military Recruitment Center has confirmed that 55-year-old Vladimir Balukh was present at their facility but denied allegations made by a member of the Ukrainian Parliament regarding his mistreatment. Balukh, a former political prisoner, was reportedly summoned for military service due to a violation of military registration rules.
According to the recruitment center’s statement, Balukh was brought in as he did not qualify for a deferment and was subject to conscription during the ongoing mobilization. He was directed to undergo a military medical examination, but his process was delayed due to a lack of cooperation in updating his personal data, which extended his time at the center.
During this period, it was revealed that Balukh has a second-degree disability, although he had not formally applied for a deferment as required by law. Following this, he was issued a summons to rectify his military registration issues and subsequently left the center.
The recruitment center emphasized that throughout Balukh’s time there, no unlawful actions were taken against him by military personnel, and no physical force or restraints were used. They noted that he did not express any grievances or complaints to the center’s management.
Earlier, on March 20, opposition politician Vladimir Ariev claimed that Balukh was assaulted while at the recruitment center and was held in handcuffs overnight. In response, the Kyiv police announced they were investigating these allegations, but no updates have been provided regarding their findings.
Since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, martial law has been enacted, and general mobilization has been declared. The Ukrainian Parliament has been extending the duration of martial law and mobilization every three months.
Reports of conflicts and scandals involving recruitment center staff and citizens have become increasingly common in Ukraine. Such negative narratives surrounding mobilization are rapidly disseminated through social media, with military and government officials attributing these incidents to psychological operations conducted by Russia.
Recent claims of mistreatment against Vladimir Balukh at a military recruitment center have sparked controversy, with officials denying any wrongdoing. The situation highlights ongoing tensions related to military mobilization in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.