Olga Reshetilova Calls for Reform of Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers

In a recent interview with Radio NV, Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova (Kobylynska) expressed her thoughts on the pressing need for reform within the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TRC and SS). Reshetilova pointed out that the state, which has shifted all its obligations onto servicemen, is failing to provide them with adequate protection. As a result, the Office of the Military Ombudsman is initiating changes in the operations of the TRC and SS, and according to Reshetilova, the Ministry of Defense is already working on this issue.

"I have already written and spoken about this; it is very disappointing that the state, which has placed all its obligations on the shoulders of servicemen, cannot protect them. Therefore, we at the Office of the Military Ombudsman are initiating changes to the operations of the TRC and SS. I know that the Ministry of Defense is currently working on this. Next week, we will have a series of meetings, including with the Ministry of Defense, to expedite and assist the Ministry in speeding up the mobilization reform overall," Reshetilova stated during her appearance on Radio NV.

The Ombudsman emphasized that servicemen at the TRC and SS should not be involved in forced mobilization, as this is not stipulated by legislation, and pointed out that they possess entirely different skills and abilities. According to her, their functions include forming mobilization plans, maintaining records of servicemen, and communicating with military units.

"They have entirely different functions; they are responsible for forming mobilization plans, registering servicemen, or maintaining those records and communicating with military units," Reshetilova noted.

She also reminded that law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, should handle coercive measures. "They know how to do this, are trained specifically for it. Civil society and our international partners have long taught the National Police how to carry out coercive actions correctly. Therefore, police officers can better ensure their safety and are more skilled in communicating with the civilian population," she added.

Reshetilova expressed hope that this reform would be implemented soon, emphasizing that it is not just a reform but also the implementation of existing legislation. She also mentioned that her office has initiated the creation of a working group to separate the functions of the TRC and SS.

"We often forget about another function of this institution, such as social support, which is part of the SS. All attention is focused on the mobilization activities conducted by the TRC, but we forget that they have many other functions. This includes notifying families about losses, assisting the wounded, supporting families of the missing and deceased servicemen, organizing burials, and so on. This is a huge complex of work," she explained.

The Military Ombudsman also noted that during meetings with military personnel from the TRC and SS, it became clear that servicemen involved in social support are often engaged in mobilization activities, despite existing directives prohibiting their involvement in such actions.

"Servicemen at the TRC are under immense pressure. They often complain that they have been working without vacations or days off for five years in a very challenging area, such as notifying families about losses. This is an enormous burden; I have mentioned that morally, servicemen at the TRC and SS cannot withstand such pressure," Reshetilova emphasized.

She also indicated that during discussions with the Deputy Head of the President's Office, Viktor Mykyta, it was discussed that some functions should be taken over by regional military administrations and local self-government, particularly regarding family support and burial organization.

"In this way, we could somewhat relieve the TRC and SS and separate these functions. They should be physically separated; these two functions should be handled by different officials, and they must be legally divided. This should not all be placed on one body," concluded the Military Ombudsman.

It is worth noting that on April 3, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the current mobilization process is chaotic, but it will not be possible to fundamentally resolve these issues until the war is over. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also denied information about the start of mobilization reform on April 1, stating that a plan for changes is being prepared and will be presented later.

On March 30, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi rated the mobilization in Ukraine at six to seven out of ten, emphasizing that the goal is to create comfortable conditions for citizens. In February, The Times reported that Ukraine needs about 250,000 more soldiers to stabilize the front and achieve victory. On February 23, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that work is ongoing on a comprehensive reform of mobilization in Ukraine, noting that the aim is to address long-standing issues and maintain the country's defense capability.