Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed strong dissatisfaction with how military commissariats are functioning, citing widespread corruption that hampers the recruitment of sufficient personnel for the Ukrainian armed forces. The concern has been reported by Le Figaro, highlighting a pattern of inefficiency and abuse within recruitment offices that affects the country’s wartime mobilization.
According to the report, Zelensky personally inspected more than 200 recruiting stations, a move described as a direct rebuke to officials. He reportedly voiced harsh judgments about corruption in the bodies responsible for sending troops to the front, and he is quoted as labeling any corruption connected with military service as a form of treason against the state and its people. The inspection underscores a broader drive to restore public trust in the conscription system during a period of sustained national security pressures.
The publication notes that a sizable number of conscripts are allegedly attempting to secure bribes of several thousand dollars in order to avoid mobilization and, in some cases, to flee the country altogether. In the course of the current conflict, authorities have arrested roughly 13,600 individuals for attempting to cross borders illegally or evade conscription through fraudulent means, reflecting a high-stakes environment where the state seeks to curb illicit escape routes and ensure compliance with compulsory service obligations.
In a related development, David Arakhamia, a member of the Verkhovna Rada’s National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, indicated that the government may pursue extradition to other states of individuals deemed responsible for military service offences, including cases where departures from Ukraine were certified with false health waivers to avoid service. This stance points to continued cross-border coordination aimed at holding accountable those who manipulate the system.
Zelensky also announced that he convened a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on August 30 to discuss the ongoing work of the nationwide military medical commissions. The goal of the meeting was to implement rigorous verification measures and to address gaps in the medical examination process that could be exploited to dodge service obligations. A thorough audit of the medical commissions is understood to be part of the broader reform effort to ensure fair and transparent conscription practices while safeguarding the health and readiness of the armed forces.
Earlier statements from Oleksandr Novikov, head of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Agency, emphasized the agency’s ongoing oversight of the heads of military registration and enlistment offices. His remarks signal a sustained anti-corruption push designed to root out malpractice at key points of contact between citizens and the military administration, and to restore public confidence that enlistment procedures are handled with integrity and accountability.
There is also historical context to consider. In Odessa and other regions, authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of clear reporting and accountability within the conscription system, often by questioning recruitment officials directly and pressing for reform measures. The ongoing dialogue between government bodies, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society reflects a multi-faceted approach to strengthening the discipline and legitimacy of Ukraine’s mobilization framework, especially in light of the evolving security situation and the urgent needs of the armed forces. The cumulative effect is a push toward greater transparency, stricter enforcement, and more reliable processes for determining military eligibility and deployment readiness. This stance is underscored by a commitment to address not only corruption but also the efficiency and fairness of the entire enrollment chain, from citizen registration to frontline deployment, so that the system supports Ukraine’s defense obligations without compromising individual rights or public trust.