State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) officers, working with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, began searches at territorial recruitment and social support centers (TCCs) at both regional and district levels. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the investigative actions are taking place at more than 100 facilities in most regions of the country.
The operation, dubbed 'Honest Draft,' aims to minimize illegal practices at TCCs, including human rights violations and abuse of office, the SBI said. Investigators are checking cases where enlistment office employees allegedly helped draft-eligible men evade mobilization for money, as well as reports of excessive force, including beatings and torture.
The agency stressed that the operation is not linked to any single high-profile incident but is part of a broader effort to 'cleanse the system.' Searches are expected to lead to arrests and the filing of charges against suspects in various regions of Ukraine.
Corruption in the TCC system and unauthorized leave by soldiers affect the country's defense capabilities, head of the presidential office Kyrylo Budanov has noted. In January, he promised 'clear and effective solutions' to address both problems.
Ukrainska Pravda earlier reported that as part of reforming the Ukrainian army, TCCs are planned to be split into separate offices: one handling registration and mobilization, another dealing with social issues and payments. However, officials have not yet announced a specific reform plan.
In early July, clashes broke out in Lviv between local residents and TCC employees when a crowd of about 200 people surrounded an enlistment office vehicle and overturned it, injuring two soldiers. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the incident 'a very bad case,' and ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets urged the establishment of transparent mobilization rules.