Recent inspections at the Uzhhorod District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support have uncovered alarming conditions, including unlawful detentions and unsanitary living situations. Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets highlighted these issues following a monitoring visit, which revealed that individuals had been held for extended periods without proper legal justification.
According to Lubinets, the recruitment center has transformed into a facility resembling a detention center, lacking any legal basis for the confinement of individuals. He reported that some detainees had been held for as long as 50 days, often without access to their personal documents or phones, which severely limited their ability to seek legal recourse.
During the visit, Lubinets noted that the conditions were degrading, with inadequate facilities for the number of people present. For instance, a group of 40 to 60 individuals had only three cups and eight metal plates for meals, forcing them to share food from a single, unprocessed source. Furthermore, the center reportedly had only one toilet and one shower for all detainees, contributing to a state of complete unsanitary conditions.
Health concerns were also raised, with Lubinets documenting instances where serious medical issues were ignored. He cited a case of a man with a visible physical disability who was retained despite his condition. It was only after intervention from Lubinets’ representative that medical assistance was provided to a man suffering from dangerously high blood pressure, highlighting the urgent need for medical care within the facility.
Lubinets emphasized that without immediate reforms in the mobilization process and accountability for the actions of recruitment center staff, the situation is likely to deteriorate further. Following the monitoring visit, a report was submitted to law enforcement, detailing potential criminal offenses, including unlawful detention and torture.
In light of these findings, Lubinets condemned the illegal actions of recruitment center personnel while also calling for protection for those working within these institutions. He pointed out that the current mobilization system requires significant changes to address these systemic issues.
Previously, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, acknowledged the chaotic nature of the current mobilization process and indicated that meaningful reforms would be difficult to implement while the war continues. He cautioned against expecting substantial improvements merely from changes in the names or formats of recruitment centers, as the core issues would remain unchanged.
Inspections at the Uzhhorod military recruitment center have revealed serious issues, including unlawful detentions and inadequate living conditions. Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets has called for urgent reforms to address these systemic problems.