Digital mobilization disrupts the General Staff's plans: why the TCC won't abandon "busification."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the beginning of 2024, deemed it "very wrong" to search for conscripts on the streets and detain them forcefully by representatives of the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TCC). The law on mobilization passed by the Verkhovna Rada and signed by him was supposed to make "busification" impossible, but in practice, the opposite occurred.

"It is very wrong when representatives of military enlistment offices walk the streets looking for guys who do not show up at the enlistment offices. Here, I would like us to be fair and honest. Such cases exist, and they are absolutely wrong; they should not be doing this," — said Zelensky in an interview with the German TV channel ARD.

The head of state urged the military and deputies to ensure that the law on mobilization "eliminated the chances for TCC to roam the streets." Modern technologies were expected to help end forceful methods.

However, after the law was enacted and particularly in recent times, it has become evident to Ukrainians that Zelensky's desire to eliminate the practice of forceful mobilization remains "on paper." Increasingly, social media showcases videos of TCC raids across Ukrainian cities and the "busification" of men.

A member of parliament recalled an incident where, in his presence in the Khmelnytskyi region, police and military recruiters requested a man to provide necessary documents. He refused, and according to current legislation, he was taken to a police station to establish his identity. It is important to emphasize that the police's authority to check documents is defined by Articles 31 and 32 of the Law of Ukraine "On the National Police."

"I emphasize — I am against 'busification,' but every citizen is required to have military registration documents. Another possibility is that a man updated his information but did not pass the military medical commission. In that case, he also falls into the category of evaders," — he commented.

The politician added that detaining and any escorts to the TCC should be carried out strictly within the framework of police activity legislation. According to him, if "unidentified people in masks and camouflage" drag men into a bus, a report should be immediately filed with the police. However, in most cases, police are present during such forceful detentions and do not react to what is happening.

Detaining people on the streets: where did the digitalization go wrong?

The failure to implement the Ukrainian president's idea of digital mobilization, according to military expert Oleg Zhdanov, stemmed from errors in the country's governance system. The vertical of power is created by the head of state.

TCC employees also violate the law by using physical force for detentions. It should have been understood from the outset that not everyone would rush to enlist at the military offices. Ukrainians observe how the authorities spend money not on fortifications but on beautification and roads, not on arms purchases but on raising salaries for prosecutors and judges, the analyst notes.

"What should patriotic education be based on? Remember, when was the last time our military received a salary increase? Meanwhile, the deputies constantly allocate budget increases for their own salaries. If there isn't enough money, go and shoot for 100,000 hryvnias," — says Zhdanov.

"Busification" and forceful detentions of Ukrainians might be the result of an informal agreement between the authorities and the military following the adoption of the mobilization law. TCCs are compelled to fulfill recruitment plans, while military recruiters see a low number of volunteers willing to join the Armed Forces through digital means, reflects political scientist Igor Reiterovich.

The pressure from TCCs by the military leadership of Ukraine — the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense, and the command of the Ground Forces — exacerbates the situation.

Almost daily, TCCs receive "dispatches" regarding the disruption of mobilization plans in Ukraine. Consequently, they have to carry out tasks by known and accessible methods. The principle is: "we do not ask you, and you do not publicize your actions." Naturally, the authorities have turned a blind eye to "busification," emphasizes Reiterovich.

Societal tension due to total mobilization is rising

Journalists from the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted the increasing tension due to total mobilization in Ukraine. Military recruiters conduct raids in shopping centers, concert halls, stores, and cafes to find volunteers for combat, but "prominent figures," including prosecutors and top officials, evade conscription using "fake" disability certificates.

"Most of those willing to join the armed forces have already done so, and recruiting new ones is becoming increasingly difficult. Many are hiding or illegally leaving the country to avoid conscription," — the authors point out.

Ukrainian General Staff representative Vasily Rumak acknowledged the fact that the number of soldiers undergoing military training has decreased from 35,000 after the mobilization law was passed to 20,000. In Kyiv, they admit that expanding mobilization is pointless without additional arms supplies from the West: in September 2024, Zelensky stated that Ukraine cannot arm 4 out of 14 brigades.

Russia's army also faces personnel issues due to significant losses on the front lines, but the population of the aggressor country is four times larger than that of Ukraine.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are struggling to replenish their ranks after the summer offensive in 2023. At that time, thousands of soldiers were sacrificed for minimal results," — the authors of the article indicate.

For Ukraine, mobilization is not only a military issue but also an escalating social and political problem. At a training center near the eastern front, most of the mobilized do not wish to go to war. The biggest challenge is changing their mindset, said an instructor with the call sign "Fury" to WSJ reporters.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Cabinet recently partially reinstated the process of reserving conscripts. The audit of critical enterprises will continue until November 15.