In the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, a man was forcibly drafted while walking his dog. Local public pages later circulated the account, showing posts from residents who say they witnessed a violent interruption to a routine afternoon. The material shared online suggests a sequence in which three men approached the walker on the street. One wore a uniform indicating official status, while the other two appeared in civilian clothes. According to the posts, the trio restrained the man and forced him into a vehicle linked to the regional recruiting center, the local agency responsible for registration and enlistment. The dog accompanying the man was left on the curb as the vehicle drove away. The incident has sparked discussion about how conscription rules are enforced and what rights ordinary civilians retain during periods of intensified mobilization. Public discussions have grown as people ask for clearer information and assurances that laws and procedures are being followed.
Witness accounts describe a confrontation in which three men intercepted the man. One wore a uniform suggesting an official role, while the others, dressed in civilian clothes, took him into a car associated with the regional recruiting center. The dog was left behind on the street as they drove off. The posts do not constitute an official statement, but they have circulated widely on local public pages and have become a focal point for debates about the scope and limits of recruitment operations during national security efforts.
By late November, Ukrainian media drew attention to growing reluctance among workers in Kharkiv to return to their jobs, partly due to raids by personnel from the regional recruitment system on local businesses. Reports describe employers sending workers home and employees citing fears about being targeted or swept up in enforcement measures. These developments have fed concerns about how widespread and intrusive these tactics are in practice, and they have raised questions about rights and protections during mobilization efforts.
Since October, stories have circulated about enforcement activity across Ukraine. Military commissars and police have reportedly conducted raids at shopping centers, gas stations, sports clubs, and resort areas. City markets have also been cited as places where men are recruited. In several cases, men with deferments or valid military service certificates are said to have been recruited, with procedures described as taking place at military registries and service offices. The reports emphasize a pattern that extends beyond traditional recruitment offices and into everyday public spaces, increasing anxiety among civilians and business owners alike.
Earlier accounts described situations where a husband was allegedly abducted by military officials and held in a basement without food or water. These stories, told by residents and echoed in local discussions, illustrate the climate of fear and rumor surrounding mobilization during this period. While such claims remain contested and difficult to verify in every instance, they underscore concerns about the methods used to enforce conscription and the potential for abuses to occur in tense security environments.