Russian Disinformation Undermines Trust in TCC, Says Dombrovskyi

Ukrainian military officials are raising concerns about growing distrust between citizens and territorial recruitment centers, attributing tensions to Russian disinformation campaigns amid ongoing mobilization efforts.

Oleg Dombrovskyi, a representative of Operational Command ‘West,’ addressed the relationship between Ukrainian society and military recruitment centers during a recent briefing. He emphasized that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have maintained public trust primarily because they’ve successfully defended the country’s stability despite ongoing Russian aggression.

“We have earned the trust of society in the Armed Forces of Ukraine only because Ukraine is currently within its stability. The front line stands, the enemy is noticeably receiving resistance,” Dombrovskyi stated. He directly challenged critics of the territorial recruitment centers (TCCs), adding, “Thanks to the AFU, such commentators who believe that the TCCs are not fulfilling their tasks or are inadequate — let them look at themselves, where they are now.”

The official’s comments come amid growing tensions surrounding mobilization efforts as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its third year. Military leadership has repeatedly stressed the need for additional personnel to maintain defensive positions along the sprawling eastern front.

Dombrovskyi emphasized the harsh reality of the situation, stating bluntly that the country remains in a state of war, and “war means not a game, but losses.” He underscored that “human resources need to be replenished for the Defense Forces” to sustain Ukraine’s resistance.

Of particular concern to military officials is the apparent effectiveness of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainian citizens. Dombrovskyi suggested these operations have contributed to a loss of “moral guidelines” among segments of the population, resulting in what he described as “shameful incidents” during interactions between citizens and recruitment center personnel.

One such troubling incident occurred recently in Lviv, western Ukraine, where a civilian reportedly stabbed a TCC military officer during a mobilization interaction. The victim was identified as a veteran who had served in both the earlier Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine and the current full-scale war before being discharged to non-combat duty for health reasons.

This violent encounter highlights the increasingly complex and tense atmosphere surrounding Ukraine’s mobilization efforts, which have intensified following the passage of a controversial new mobilization law earlier this year. The legislation lowered the mobilization age from 27 to 25 and introduced stricter penalties for evading military registration.

Military analysts note that Russian propaganda has specifically targeted Ukraine’s mobilization processes, spreading misinformation about alleged abuses by recruitment officers and encouraging resistance to conscription efforts. These campaigns exploit genuine concerns about mobilization practices while undermining Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

The Ukrainian government has attempted to counter these narratives by emphasizing reforms to make the mobilization process more transparent and implementing digital systems to improve registration procedures. However, videos of controversial recruitment tactics have periodically circulated on social media, complicating official messaging efforts.

As Ukraine enters its third year of full-scale war with depleted manpower reserves, military officials stress that successful mobilization remains critical to the country’s defense strategy. However, incidents like the one in Lviv suggest that rebuilding trust between recruitment centers and the civilian population will be essential to those efforts moving forward.

Security experts emphasize that addressing legitimate grievances about mobilization practices while effectively countering Russian disinformation will be crucial challenges for Ukrainian authorities in the coming months as they balance defense needs with maintaining social cohesion.