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January 8, 2024Three residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region shared their ordeal, claiming that representatives of the territorial recruitment center in Zakarpattia used force against them, held them captive, and confiscated their funds intended to purchase a vehicle for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Dmitry Yakovenko, along with his friends Valery Kharchenko and Nikita Velichko, arrived in the city of Rakhiv on December 22, 2023, to buy a car for the military. According to Yakovenko, all three are registered for military service in the territorial recruitment center of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Upon arrival in Rakhiv at 9 a.m., migration service representatives approached them, detained them, and took them to the border service in Delovoye.
“There, without any explanations, administrative protocols were drawn up against us, suspecting us of attempting illegal border crossing. Despite our complaints, we were met with threats and placed in a temporary detention facility in Solotvyno, Tyachiv district of Zakarpattia region, for 72 hours,” Dmitry said.
After their release, they were detained again at the exit by employees of the Khust territorial recruitment center. Without explanation, they were taken to the recruitment center in the city of Khust, where their mobile phones and $6,800 intended for buying the vehicle were confiscated.
“They started physically assaulting us, kicking and punching us, demanding that we write statements claiming we had no money,” Dmitry recounted.
When he refused to comply, recruitment center workers pushed him to the ground, put a black plastic bag over his head, and tightened it around his neck, making it hard to breathe.
“They threatened to shoot us, pointing rifles at us, saying we won’t be the first or the last, and that they’ve dealt with worse. They claimed we were going to die anyway, and we wouldn’t need the money. We explained that the money was for purchasing a vehicle for the military, and they need it. They boldly replied that hardly anyone returns from the front, so they don’t need a car,” Dmitry remembered.
Later, Dmitry and Valery were taken to a basement, while Nikita, only 19 years old, was released.
In the basement, they were with several other men who claimed they were also mistreated and held against their will without food or water for over three days.
“I managed to call law enforcement and the Ministry of Defense hotline using someone else’s phone, reporting what was happening to us, but no one came to help us,” Dmitry said.
Later that night, Valery and Dmitry were taken to the district territorial recruitment center in Uzhhorod. They got their phones back but were still forcibly detained.
“We started calling 102, reporting what happened. Police officers arrived but adamantly refused to take our statements, citing that during the state of war in Ukraine, the Constitution doesn’t apply, allegedly announced by President Zelensky in the media,” Dmitry explained.
Despite this, the men kept contacting their lawyers and the police. Eventually, their statements were accepted.
“For some reason, against our will, the police took us in an unknown direction, saying we’ve had enough,” Dmitry said.
At a stoplight, they managed to exit the police car surprisingly without being chased by officers. They reached Mukachevo, but they were detained again.
“This time it was investigators from Uzhhorod’s criminal investigation department who took us to the Uzhhorod city police department,” Dmitry said.
Subsequently, they were handed back to the Uzhhorod district territorial recruitment center.
“Then, me and Kharchenko were again taken by the workers of the Khust district territorial recruitment center and forcibly held in a green Mercedes Vito minibus, registration number AO 9108 IA. We didn’t know where we were being taken,” Yakovenko stated.
They drove for a long time. Eventually, they learned they were at a training ground near the city of Rivne.
However, they were not accepted into the military unit because they hadn’t passed the medical board. Despite claims by the Khust territorial recruitment center that they had, they were left near Rivne at a distribution point.
There, they were transferred to another vehicle, and this time, the military personnel in Rivne treated them differently.
“They were polite and civil. We asked where we were going, as we weren’t detained. They said, ‘Guys, we’re not holding you. You’re free. Contact the territorial recruitment center, and they’ll call you if needed.’ We even had coffee with the military before parting ways,” Dmitry said.
The men returned to the Dnipropetrovsk region. Dmitry learned from his lawyers that he and his friend are now registered at the Khust territorial recruitment center.
“They held us captive for three days. The police refused to defend our rights. We decided to share this story so that people know what’s happening,” Dmitry Yakovenko concluded.