Kathmandu— In Ukraine, the urgent need to replenish military ranks has resulted in increasingly aggressive recruitment practices, with reports emerging of men being forcibly seized from public spaces – a tactic known as “busification” – and subjected to abuse and corruption. While initially bolstered by patriotic volunteers following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine now faces significant challenges in maintaining troop levels, leading to harsher tactics and growing resistance. The situation has escalated into violence, with attacks on recruitment officers becoming more frequent, alongside widespread allegations of corruption within the conscription system.

The Rise of ‘Busification’

Since May 2024, Ukrainian recruitment officers have been increasingly known for ambushing men on the street and forcibly taking them to mobilization centers. Anton, a Kyiv resident with health issues that he believed should exempt him from service, recounted being chased by police and taken to a clinic where his phone was confiscated before being held in a room with barred windows. This practice, dubbed “busification,” involves stopping men, checking for exemption cards, and transporting them directly to recruitment centers.

Escalating Violence Against Recruiters

Resistance to the aggressive conscription drive has turned violent, with several attacks on draft officers in recent months. In February 2025 alone, a draft officer was shot dead in Poltava oblast, an explosion at a draft office in Rivne killed one and wounded six (later attributed to Russian recruitment), and another blast injured someone in Pavlohrad. Over 600 attacks on enlistment officers have been recorded since the start of the war, with assaults nearly tripling in 2025.

Corruption Undermines Trust

Allegations of corruption within the recruitment process are rampant. Reports indicate that some men have obtained exemptions through fraudulent medical diagnoses and that officials have exploited the system for personal gain. In October 2024, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General resigned after reports surfaced of prosecutors in Khmelnytskyi region obtaining disability status to avoid the draft. A subsequent investigation revealed widespread abuse, with over 4,100 fake disability certificates issued and 64 officials charged. The chief psychiatrist of Ukraine’s armed forces was also arrested in January 2025 for illegal enrichment.

International Concerns and Public Discontent

The Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights raised alarm over mobilization practices, citing “systematic and large-scale” violations including beatings, detentions, and the conscription of disabled men. This has eroded public trust in enlistment officers; a July 2025 survey showed only 24 percent of Ukrainians trusted them. Telegram groups tracking recruiters emerged, attracting so much attention that Russian intelligence attempted to exploit the movement with a malware-laden app.

Government Response and Acknowledgment of Issues

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that such incidents benefit Russia, while acknowledging the need for improvement in mobilization methods. Oleksandr Syrskii, recently dismissed as commander-in-chief alongside Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, also admitted to working on correcting mistakes and preventing rights violations at enlistment offices. The Defence Ministry has conceded that changes are needed.

The situation remains tense as Ukraine continues to grapple with the challenges of maintaining troop levels amidst ongoing conflict, balancing military needs with public trust and human rights concerns.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.