The Rivne Territorial Recruitment Center accused of “immorality and cynicism” the woman whose child was sprayed with gas from a canister by a military enlistment officer

Yesterday in Ukraine’s Rivne region, employees of one of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCC and SP) sprayed a woman with a child using pepper spray.

Local media reported.

In the footage circulating online, two recruitment officers can be seen: one leads a man in civilian clothing toward a car, while the other is fending off two women who approached him. A few seconds later, another woman comes up to the second officer with a small child in her arms, after which the TCC employee immediately sprays them in the face. The child— a little girl—appears to be affected the most.

The Rivne Regional TCC commented on the incident, calling the actions of the woman with the child immoral and irresponsible.

“Interference by civilian women—especially with underage children—in any situations that may pose a danger to children is, at the very least, irresponsible! We consider such behavior cynical, irresponsible, and morally unacceptable, because using the presence of children in conflicts with representatives of state bodies endangers the children themselves and undermines citizens’ legal culture. Especially cynical is using children as a shield from the law. This is not a manifestation of maternal instinct, but a deliberate attempt to avoid responsibility, which violates not only the law but also the moral order,” the statement said.

The TCC added that the actions of recruitment officers who carry out notifications, check military registration documents, or deliver individuals subject to mobilization are lawful and regulated by current Ukrainian legislation. They also reminded the public about criminal liability under the relevant article of the Criminal Code for obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“A review is being conducted regarding possible unlawful actions by one of the TCC and SP servicemen toward civilians,” the agency specified.