Ukrainian Member of Parliament from “European Solidarity” Oleksiy Honcharenko sparked significant resonance in Ukrainian political and military circles with his initiative to introduce a separate military uniform for employees of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC)
He publicly posted a relevant request to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Defense on his Facebook page on Saturday, prompting widespread discussion. The "European Solidarity" faction characterized this idea as a personal initiative by the politician, which lacks support within the faction and has not been discussed collectively. According to an official statement published on social media, Honcharenko called on government officials to develop a distinct design for the uniform for TCC personnel, emphasizing that their current clothing, particularly the pixel camouflage, causes dissatisfaction and discontent among military and civilian personnel. "TCC members should not wear pixel camouflage," the deputy noted, adding that many servicemen are compelled to avoid this uniform because it has become a source of discomfort, misunderstandings, and even conflicts. He stated that some occurrences have escalated into fights due to confrontations — a situation he considers unacceptable during wartime. At the same time, the "European Solidarity" faction responded quickly to this initiative. Co-chair Iryna Herashchenko, in an interview for the party’s official Facebook page, emphasized that "European Solidarity" has not initiated any draft laws or proposals regarding the introduction of a separate uniform for TCC personnel. She clarified that the party only learned about this idea from social media and will later discuss it within the faction. She underscored that mobilization and volunteer work in such centers remain an important component of the country’s defense system. "TCC is part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It involves military personnel who have returned from the front due to injuries and wounds and are now performing other tasks. We express our respect and gratitude for their defense of Ukraine," Herashchenko stated. The authors of the official statement note that Honcharenko’s initiative was a surprise to his colleagues within the faction and was not subject to internal discussions. This underscores the absence of a unified consensus regarding such a proposal. Prior to this statement, on April 15, Honcharenko publicly announced his intention to vote against extending mobilization and martial law, which elicited a harsh response from the parliamentary leadership. Verkhovna Rada Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk notably reacted strongly to the disrespect for procedural norms and calls to block parliamentary processes, emphasizing the importance of遵守法律 and unity during wartime. This incident became yet another example of internal political contradictions arising in the context of martial law and mobilization processes in Ukraine. Thus, Honcharenko’s initiative to introduce a separate military uniform for TCC personnel elicited an ambivalent reaction, crystallizing through debates over the role of deputies in military-political decisions, and serving as a platform for discussions on state policy regarding identity formation and proper attitude toward the military in modern Ukraine.