Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova Reports Cases of Bullying of Soldiers by Schoolchildren in Odesa
In a recent interview with Radio NV, military ombudsman Olga Reshetilova expressed deep concern over incidents of bullying directed at military personnel by schoolchildren in Odesa, influenced by Russian propaganda on social media.
Military ombudsman Olga Reshetilova, also known by her maiden name Kobylinska, has raised alarms regarding troubling instances of bullying against military servicemen occurring in the city of Odesa. In her recent interview with Radio NV, Reshetilova highlighted that local citizens have reported that schoolchildren, swayed by Russian videos on TikTok, have started to harass individuals in uniform on the streets. This trend, according to Reshetilova, poses a significant threat as the immature psyche of children is easily susceptible to Russian propaganda.
"At one event in Odesa, citizens brought up the issue that schoolchildren, having watched various Russian videos on TikTok, are beginning to bully servicemen, people in uniform on the streets. This is already a very dangerous alarm bell because the unprepared child psyche is primarily susceptible to Russian propaganda. When their adolescent aggression is directed against servicemen, it certainly requires our active counteraction," Reshetilova stated during her appearance on Radio NV.
She further noted that such sentiments among teenagers could also be cultivated within their home environments. "There needs to be a nationwide information policy, especially regarding work with youth, to foster respect for individuals in uniform. The Office of the Military Ombudsman alone cannot resolve this; we must work with the government, and we will definitely initiate such efforts," emphasized the military ombudsman.
The situation in Odesa is becoming increasingly tense. On March 30, it was reported that in the Peresyp district, during mobilization activities, a man stabbed a serviceman, resulting in injuries. This incident sparked outrage among the public and underscored the rising aggression towards military personnel.
On March 27, a woman in Odesa reported that representatives from the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRSS) forcibly shoved her into a van along with her infant, who subsequently suffered a concussion. The Odesa regional TCRSS announced that it had initiated a service check in connection with this incident.
On February 26, a conflict arose between two military personnel at the Odesa regional TCRSS, during which one of them discharged a blank round from a noise device, violating disciplinary regulations. Fortunately, no one was harmed as a result of this incident.
On February 15, in the Kyiv district of Odesa, a group of civilians attacked TCRSS military personnel during a verification of military registration documents. The crowd employed physical force and tear gas, leading to injuries among the military. As a result of the attack, they sustained varying degrees of bodily harm and chemical burns to their corneas, necessitating hospitalization. The attackers also damaged a service vehicle and recording equipment, as reported by the Odesa regional TCRSS.
On February 4, in the vicinity of Mechnikova Street, during notification activities conducted by a joint group of TCRSS military and the National Police, a man stabbed a serviceman and fled the scene. The injured serviceman was also hospitalized. These incidents indicate a growing tension between military personnel and civilian citizens in the region, which requires urgent response from the authorities.