The man beaten by military recruiters in Kharkiv turned out to be a local teacher. Mayor Terekhov condemned the TCC

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov has commented on a recent incident in which a man was beaten by officers of one of the city’s Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCC and SSC). He described the video of the incident as “shameful.”

The mayor shared his statement on his official Telegram channel.

“A few days ago, a shameful video spread across social media. It shows an employee of one of Kharkiv’s enlistment centers hitting a man near a water dispenser. The victim is a Kharkiv resident — a history, human rights, and national defense teacher. He’s the homeroom teacher of an 8th-grade class. He had a legal exemption from military service and presented the necessary documents during his encounter with TCC officers. This is clearly shown in the video, as is the fact that he broke no laws, did not provoke a conflict, and did not resist. He remained calm and showed no aggression, but that did not prevent the use of force,” Terekhov wrote.

He acknowledged that while “many honorable people work in the TCC,” such incidents damage public trust in the government and deepen societal divisions.

The mayor called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a full investigation and ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable.

Following public outcry in the media and online, the TCC released a statement claiming the altercation was the result of “provocative actions on the part of the citizen.”

Reports and images of abuse by enlistment officers continue to surface. Recently, a photo emerged of a man chained to a radiator inside a TCC building. In many such cases, TCC officials attempt to shift blame onto the individuals who were subjected to violence.