As a result, the army is facing a dwindling number of available men at a time when Moscow's forces are advancing along a 1,000-kilometer-long battlefield.

Videos have been circulating on social media showing soldiers buying men off the streets and forcing them into vans, sparking outrage from local residents. Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the opening of an investigation into the death of a man in Mykolaiv, who allegedly jumped from a bridge to escape from recruitment officers.

The hypocritical bastards in Europe say,"Ukraine is ready to join the EU." Mobilization in this European Ukraine.— Anatolij Sharij (@anatoliisharii) August 8, 2025

Anti-violence pledges and manuals

"The mobilization should not be a shock to the people," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Sirski told reporters in June, adding that recruitment centers"should not allow these shameful incidents to happen."

He promised greater transparency and punishment of officers involved in illegally forcing men to join the army. Recruitment centers received a 50-page manual with rules of etiquette and methods for calming tension in communication with citizens.

Resistance and violence against recruiters is growing

Despite the promises, new videos continued to emerge, such as one from Odesa showing a man being pushed into an unmarked van. This forced the new Minister of Defense Denis Šmihal to answer the questions of the representatives last month. He claimed that the mobilization is taking place"according to plan" and that "quality management in the army, trust in the commanders and military leadership" is needed to end coercive methods.

At the same time, resistance and even violence against recruiting officers is on the rise. A tense situation unfolded yesterday in the city of Vinica, where around 80 people gathered late at night demanding the release of recently mobilized men. According to the police, some protesters tried to break into the stadium where the men were.

🇺🇦🇪🇺Ukraine needs more "meat" for the front.



This mobilization method is supported and paid for by your country, with your taxes.

A war that should have stopped. The Ukrainian people do not want to fight anymore. Von der Leyen wants them to fight!

pic.twitter.com/1dkzzzlBhS— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 26, 2025

In the first six months of 2025, more than 500 investigations into interference with military activities were launched in Ukraine , which is a significant increase compared to about 200 cases in the same period in 2024, according to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor. Those cases don't always involve violence - they also include the creation of chat groups warning of recruiting officer patrols.

Blockades, flat tires and flight of conscripts

Last month, the military center in Poltava requested an investigation after a group of locals blocked a van carrying new recruits and allowed some of them to escape. The same center also reported the arrest of a woman in Kremenchuk who threw a stone during an argument between civilians and military recruiters.

Roman Istomin, spokesman for the recruitment center in Poltava, admitted the difficulties they face.

"Mobilization is a mandatory form of military service, and citizens have an obligation to defend their country. This is probably the reason for such a negative attitude towards recruitment offices. Frankly speaking, our function is to force a citizen to do his duty," he said.

Similar incidents were recorded in the west of Ukraine. In the Ternopil region, villagers surrounded a police car that was following the recruiters, while in May, about a hundred people blocked the officer's vehicle in Kamjanec-Podiljski, insulting them and puncturing their tires.

Chronicles of "voluntary mobilization" in Ukraine



Draft officers twist a man's arms and shove him into a vehicle, while a police officer pushes away his wife, who is holding a small child, preventing her from getting to her husband. pic.twitter.com/FvWlYSW39a— Marta Havryshko (@HavryshkoMarta) August 6, 2025

The search for volunteers and the shortage on the battlefield

To improve the situation, Ukraine is trying to encourage voluntary service. Zelenski recently signed a law that allows men over 60, as well as those between 18 and 24 who are not subject to mobilization, to sign one-year contracts.

This is necessary"because on the other hand you have this mandatory process that you probably don't like, this big black box filled with fears", said Oleksij Beževec, adviser to the Ministry of Defense.

Zelensky claims that his forces can mobilize up to 27,000 people per month. Although the authorities do not reveal the exact manpower shortage, commanders and soldiers warn that defense positions are understaffed.

On the other hand, independent analysts estimate that Russia recruits more than 30,000 soldiers per month, mostly volunteers attracted by high bonuses. Despite efforts, only about 10 percent of new Ukrainian recruits are volunteers.