In Odesa, nine employees of the Territorial Center for Recruitment (TCC) were sentenced for kidnapping and torturing men. The court issued the verdict on October 14, 2026, sentencing six of them to real prison terms ranging from 5 years and 1 month to 7 years.
Details of the Case
According to information provided by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), TCC employees organized illegal detentions of men during mobilization activities. During these detentions, they:
- forcibly dragged men into vehicles;
- used physical force and beat them;
- employed tear gas;
- threatened sexual violence;
- subjected them to psychological pressure.
Four of the convicted were charged with torture. Additionally, two employees received lighter sentences of 2 years of service restriction, while one received a suspended sentence.
Government Reaction
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine confirmed the information regarding the verdict, stating that this decision is an important step in combating illegal actions during mobilization. It is known that during the meetings of the temporary investigative commission (TIC), issues of violence against people in the context of mobilization activities were regularly raised.
Regional Situation
This case has drawn attention to the problem of violence and abuse occurring within the framework of mobilization activities. Local activists and human rights defenders are calling for increased oversight of TCC activities and ensuring human rights during mobilization.
The conviction of TCC employees has become an important signal that abuses will not go unpunished and that the justice system is working to restore justice.