“Working with the TCC negatively affects the image of the National Police”, – Vyhovskyi said

Joint work with staff of the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support (TCC/“military enlistment offices”) on mobilizing citizens is damaging the police’s image.

This was stated by the head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhovskyi.

He noted that since the start of the war there has been an increase in cases of citizens resisting TCC staff. In his opinion, this is due to “most people not wanting to join the army.” At the same time, he also pointed to problems in the work of the enlistment offices themselves.

“We also carry out notifications together with the TCC and Social Support centers, and this has a very negative impact on the image of the National Police. On the other hand, we document cases of corruption in the TCC—when, for money, they let go of certain categories of people who are subject to mobilization. Society knows about this too. That’s why it has minimal trust in the TCC and immediately reacts negatively even when someone is stopped just to check documents. And almost every day there are incidents of attacks on TCC servicemen,” Vyhovskyi said.

He added that after the full-scale invasion the police recorded 526 cases of resistance to enlistment officers. The highest number—59—was in Kharkiv region, and the lowest—just one—was in Kherson region.

Vyhovskyi also said that complaints about the work of the police and the TCC often are not confirmed during inspections.

In addition, he reminded that only the police can detain people, while the TCC’s duty is limited to notifying and summonsing.

At the same time, videos regularly appear online showing people being detained by enlistment officers rather than police.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, to address the issue of forced mobilization on the streets.