Hundreds protested conscription practices in Vinnytsia, western Ukraine, on 1/8, after reports emerged that around 100 local men had been forcibly taken by recruitment officers to Lokomotiv Stadium for enlistment processing.

"They were stopping people on the bridge in the city center and bringing them here, locking the gates. We rushed over because some acquaintances called for help. When we approached, the police started using pepper spray," Vinnytsia resident Anna Tetervak told Ukrainska Pravda.

The protest continued past the city's wartime curfew. Tensions escalated as demonstrators attempted to breach the stadium gates. A witness told Suspilne that police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and prevent them from entering the stadium. Several protesters were arrested.

Protesters gather outside Lokomotiv Stadium in Vinnytsia on the night of 1/8. Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

Protesters gather outside Lokomotiv Stadium in Vinnytsia on the night of 1/8. Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

The Vinnytsia recruitment office confirmed on 2/8 that a group of men of conscription age had been taken to the stadium for medical examinations.

Ukrainian police stated they have launched an investigation into the incident. They added that among those taken to Lokomotiv Stadium for medical checks was an individual previously accused of draft evasion.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the Vinnytsia incident.

To meet operational needs and compensate for battlefield losses, the Ukrainian military has intensified recruitment efforts, even enlisting individuals previously considered below standard.

Some opposition members of parliament and watchdog organizations in Ukraine claim thousands have been unlawfully detained during recruitment. Member of Parliament Georgy Mazurashu described the government's mobilization methods as a "shameful hunt," warning of mistreatment of soldiers.

Thanh Danh (Kyiv Independent, Pravda)