Attacks on Military Personnel in Ukraine: What is Happening with Mobilization

Serhiy Rakhmanin, an officer of the Svoboda Battalion and a member of the Ukrainian Parliament from the 7th and 8th convocations, has voiced significant alarm regarding the attacks on military personnel of the Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) occurring across Ukraine. He pointed out that the murder of Ukrainian soldiers in the rear areas is inexcusable and called on society to engage in a serious dialogue about the necessity of mobilization.

Rakhmanin emphasized that while there may be corrupt individuals and scoundrels among the TDF personnel, the vast majority are fulfilling their duties with integrity. "The killer did not care who was in front of him. A corrupt person or an honest individual, with combat experience or without — he stabbed a Ukrainian soldier while they were performing their official duties. Period," he stated, highlighting that a wounded veteran had previously been killed, yet this did not deter the murderer or those attempting to justify this act of violence.

According to Rakhmanin, the failure of mobilization signifies not only a loss of statehood but also amounts to genocide against the Ukrainian nation. "We went through this a hundred years ago, but the horrific lesson of history, as we see, remains unlearned," he remarked, urging decisive action from the government.

The state leadership, as per Rakhmanin, must publicly condemn the attacks on TDF personnel and begin to communicate openly and honestly with society about the need for mobilization and all related issues. "As long as politicians fear damaging their ratings and ignore this topic, or worse — engage in destructive populism, the entire complex of problems related to mobilization will remain unresolved and left to fend for itself," he underscored.

Rakhmanin noted that an honest conversation with society is crucial, as without mobilization, Ukraine faces extinction. "We need a fair mobilization that applies to everyone. A review of the conscription exemption system is also an important step," he added, stressing the need for strict penalties for attacks on military personnel and for anti-state propaganda. Furthermore, he called for severe and exemplary punishment for corruption during mobilization — for both those who take bribes and those who offer them.

This text has been published with the permission of the author, Serhiy Rakhmanin, and underscores the importance of discussing mobilization issues in Ukraine, as well as the necessity of protecting military personnel who are carrying out their duties under challenging conditions.