Ukrainian authorities opened a criminal investigation after about 200 civilians surrounded and overturned an army conscription vehicle in Lviv following the detention of a man suspected of evading military service.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation after a confrontation in the western city of Lviv involving army conscription officers, police and about 200 civilians, according to authorities cited by Euronews.
The incident occurred Wednesday night after officers detained a man suspected of evading military service and took him to a draft center, Euronews reported. Videos circulated on social media showed a crowd surrounding an army conscription vehicle before it was overturned.
“Ukraine opened a criminal investigation on Thursday after crowds of people in the western city of Lviv surrounded and overturned an army conscription vehicle the night before,” Euronews reported.
“The incident drew a swift backlash from Ukrainian officials, some of whom called on citizens to direct their anger at Russia and not the army,” the outlet reported.
Ukraine’s prosecution service said the case involves servicemen, police officers and civilians who gathered during the confrontation.
“An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of an incident that occurred in Lviv involving servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces, police officers, and around 200 civilians,” Ukraine’s prosecution service said, according to Euronews.
The Lviv confrontation comes as Ukraine faces continuing tensions over military recruitment. Recruitment officers were rarely met with violence early in the war against Russia, but public resistance to forced conscription has increased as the conflict has continued.
Social media posts showed scenes from the Lviv incident, including footage of the confrontation, another post showing the crowd around the conscription vehicle, and a separate video from the scene.
According to Euronews, videos posted online showed people surrounding and attacking a vehicle in Lviv late Wednesday while shouting “shame” and recording the scene with their phones. Prosecutors said a police officer who arrived to calm the crowd was later attacked.
“Videos published on social media showed crowds surrounding and attacking a vehicle in Lviv late Wednesday, shouting ‘shame’ and filming with their phones. A police officer who arrived to calm the crowd was later attacked, according to prosecutors,” Euronews reported.
The confrontation reflects a broader pattern of clashes between civilians and army conscription police. Ukrainian authorities have reported more than 100 such incidents this year alone, according to Euronews.
“Ukraine has seen a steady increase in clashes between citizens and army conscription police […], with authorities reporting over 100 such incidents this year alone,” the outlet reported.
The incident in Lviv marks one of the larger reported confrontations involving conscription officers, with authorities citing around 200 civilians at the scene. The criminal investigation will examine the conduct of civilians, police officers and Ukrainian armed forces personnel involved in the episode.
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