Kharkiv TRC soldiers suspected of torturing civilians

The State Bureau of Investigations has uncovered evidence of the torture of civilians involving military personnel from one of Kharkiv’s district territorial recruitment and social support centers.

This was reported by the DBR, according to Ukrinform.

The investigation established that military personnel from one of the Kharkiv Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRC) and other units, under the pretext of “carrying out measures to notify and draft citizens into military service during mobilization,” broke into a private residence.

During the so-called search, the accomplices identified themselves as employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. They demanded that the civilians confess to involvement in criminal activities related to the distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. To extract confessions, the suspects used physical force and threatened the victims with weapons.

When one of the men tried to resist, the perpetrators opened fire on him, resulting in his injury.

The suspects forcibly took the two victims to the TRC premises and held them there for an extended period. They beat the civilians, threatened to use weapons against them, and forced them to provide information the suspects were interested in. One of the victims was forced to sign documents, including those regarding the revocation of a deferment from mobilization.

Eventually, one of the men was released, while the other managed to escape on his own.

The investigation revealed that six individuals were involved in the crime. They acted in concert, following a premeditated and coordinated plan. Among those implicated is a major in the Territorial Defense Forces, who held a leadership position and directed the actions of his accomplices. He enlisted the help of military personnel from the security unit of the same center, as well as soldiers whose duties included recruiting candidates for subsequent military service under conscription during mobilization.

The suspects have been charged with torture committed by a group of individuals acting in concert. They face up to ten years in prison.

Read also: Territorial recruitment centers cannot detain citizens – Ombudsman

As reported by Ukrinform, in Odesa, with the assistance of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and the leadership of the Ground Forces, a criminal group engaged in extorting money from citizens was recently exposed. If victims refused, the perpetrators used violence against civilians and threatened to send them to the assault units. The criminal group included employees of the TRC.

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In connection with the detention of military personnel from the mobilization units of the Peresypsky District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center and the Odessa Joint Staff, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched an internal investigation. The head of the Odesa Regional Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, as well as the head of the Peresypsky District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, have been suspended from their duties.