In Kharkiv, an employee of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TЦК), who was caught on video near Prymorska Street hitting a man in the stomach during a document check, has been notified of suspicion of hooliganism
This came as part of law enforcement’s response to an incident that sparked widespread public resonance and discussion on social media. The investigation into the incident was initiated after a video circulated online showing a regrettable conflict between a serviceman and a civilian resident. According to official information, the incident occurred during the work of a mobile group tasked with notifying reservists. The Kharkiv regional police reported that during the document verification, an employee of the TЦК, angered by the citizen’s words or behavior, used physical force by striking him in the stomach. The victim was identified as a local resident—a history teacher from the city—who reported the incident to the police. Law enforcement representatives responded promptly: investigators, under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Eastern Region, initiated a criminal case under Article 296, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – hooliganism. Under current legislation, the penalty for this offense can be up to five years of restricted liberty, indicating the seriousness and public danger of such conduct. As of today, the suspect has been officially informed of the suspicion of committing a crime. Police officials emphasized that their officers and investigators will strongly react to any violations of citizens’ rights and will not ignore incidents that provoke public resonance. This is an important step in ensuring the protection of residents’ lawful rights and maintaining public order. The background of the conflict has some interesting details. On May 11, the Kharkiv regional territorial center for mobilization and social support initiated a service investigation following the appearance of the relevant video on social media. The footage shows a TЦК serviceman hitting a civilian man in the stomach on Prymorska Street. According to the official position of the department, the conflict arose due to "provocative actions by the citizen," but the fact of using physical force has already been condemned by the leadership. The department also noted that any violence from service personnel is unacceptable. On May 13, Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, announced on his social media page that the victim in this incident is a school teacher who, during the incident, handed over documents confirming his right to a deferral from mobilization. This confirms that the man was performing his duties and exercising his legal rights. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement authorities state that all events will be carefully examined to establish the objective truth and hold those responsible accountable. This incident has sparked lively public discussion regarding legality and citizens’ rights during mobilization measures. In Kharkiv and other regions of the country, police pledge to strengthen oversight over officials to prevent similar cases in the future. At the same time, society awaits a fair and objective investigation to punish the guilty and prevent violations in the performance of official duties by defense personnel. This new episode once again underscores the importance of safeguarding citizens’ rights regardless of circumstances and their role in the country’s defense. Justice is expected to act responsibly and not to remain unaccounted for the use of physical force against civilians.