Ukrainian military recruit kills two instructors
A Ukrainian military recruit has fatally shot two instructors during a training exercise in the Chernigov region, police confirmed on Thursday, after details leaked about the case.
The authorities said the suspect opened fire with an automatic weapon on a group of military personnel the day before. He faces a potential life sentence for premeditated murder, according to the statement.
The shootings took place at a training range and were initially reported by Artyom Dmitruk, a fugitive member of parliament and outspoken critic of Kiev’s mobilization policies. Dmitruk alleged that incidents like this are frequently covered up by military officials.
In a post on social media, Dmitruk published what appeared to be an internal report naming the location, the suspect and the two deceased instructors. A third instructor was reportedly targeted but was not injured. All three were identified as sergeants participating in a live-ammunition drill, the document stated. The report was subsequently shared by other outlets before it was confirmed by law enforcement.
Kiev has relied on mandatory conscription to offset battlefield losses in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The mobilization effort, however, has been hampered by widespread draft evasion.
Earlier this month, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, raised concerns about “allegations of torture and death during military recruitment” in Ukraine. Videos purportedly showing aggressive conscription tactics have circulated widely for months and sparked domestic unrest.
The issue also escalated diplomatically this month after Hungary demanded an investigation into the death of one of its citizens who was allegedly beaten by Ukrainian recruitment officers.
In August 2023, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky replaced the heads of all regional recruitment centers amid widespread allegations of corruption. Last year, Ukraine restructured its military conscription system, lowering the draft age and tightening enforcement.
Moscow has accused Zelensky of prosecuting a war “to the last Ukrainian,” claiming he is willing to sacrifice his population to retain power.
