Military raids spark concern over civil liberties in Ukraine
On Saturday evening, military personnel and police conducted further raids on restaurants, concert halls, nightclubs, and even petrol stations across many Ukrainian cities, media reports suggest. There are reports of the death of one of the detained men, allegedly due to being beaten by military personnel.
According to TSN, on Saturday evening, military personnel and police appeared at a concert hall in Cherkasy, where a popular Ukrainian comedian was performing. As people began leaving the hall, their details were recorded.
Checks in Ukraine. All men are being inspected
No one was allowed to leave the building independently before their documents were checked.
The "Times Kyiv" reports that officials also appeared at a chain of petrol stations in Kyiv.
According to reports, drivers were not allowed to leave the station premises until their documents had been checked.
Ukrainian blogger Jura Skyf from Lviv posted a video online claiming that employees of the Territorial Recruitment Centre (TCK) and police were "blocking cars, tearing off doors, and beating people."
Soldiers beat a man in Odessa?
The most dramatic reports come from Odessa. According to Ukrainian journalist Anatoliy Shariy, one of the men died in the hospital after being detained by the military and police. It is alleged that he was beaten by TCK personnel.
Decision of the Council of Ministers. Three days to collect the summons
Meanwhile, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers, conscripts have three days to collect a summons from the military commission at the post office. According to Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne, "registered letters marked 'TCK summons' will be delivered personally to the recipient at the specified address".
"If the recipient is absent at the address provided in the registered letter, the postal worker informs the recipient via the available phone number and/or places a notice to collect the registered letter marked 'TCK summons' in the mailbox," it states.
Failure to collect the summons within three days will result in a fine ranging from £520 to £780.
Mass checks were conducted in Kyiv, Lutsk, Odessa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Bukovel. Among the inspected facilities were restaurants, concert halls, shopping centres, gyms, and other sports facilities.
The inspections have been ongoing since Friday evening. The most notable inspection occurred in Kyiv, where approximately 500 police and military officers showed up at the Sports Palace following a concert by a leading artist. There were scuffles with the police.
Data registration obligation
Recall that Ukrainian men of conscription age had until 16th July to update their information in the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine's application.
The country's situation was commented on by the Information Counteraction Centre of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. "There is a growing number of publications in the media and social networks promoting the following anti-mobilisation narratives: 'mobilisation in Ukraine is socially unjust,' 'the Ukrainian authorities want to fight until the last Ukrainian,' 'Ukraine has no future'."
"TCK employees act within their powers"
"Manipulations surrounding the checks conducted the day before by TCK employees, especially in Kyiv, are being widely spread online. Hostile media present this situation as 'lawlessness' and try to exaggerate its significance, giving it more weight than it actually has. (...) At the same time, enemy propagandists remain silent about the harsh mobilisation efforts carried out in Russia itself," the statement on Telegram reads.
The Centre adds that a general mobilisation was announced in Ukraine following the start of the full-scale invasion by Russia "as a forced measure and the only way to save the country from the Kremlin's invaders."
"TCK employees act within their powers," it emphasised.
