Lviv, clash between residents and Ukrainian military during the conscription of a young man, vehicle window smashed

A serious incident in Lviv, western Ukraine, has prompted Ukrainian authorities to take action, opening an investigation after clashes between military personnel, police and residents during an attempt to conscript a young man into military service.

The Office of the Prosecutor General said that two preliminary criminal investigations have been registered in connection with the case. The incident involved members of the armed forces, police officers and around 200 residents.

Videos shared on social media show dozens of people surrounding a military vehicle, chanting “shame” and insulting the personnel. The crowd then smashed the vehicle’s front window and eventually overturned it as those present applauded.

According to the regional recruitment center, everything began when a young man was stopped for verification and it emerged that he had violated rules related to military recruitment. Military authorities said a group of residents surrounded the service vehicle, behaved aggressively, caused major damage to it and then overturned it.

Police, for their part, said they had also launched an investigation into the assault of an officer, adding that the suspect has been identified.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy condemned the incident, describing it as “terrible.” He stressed that obstructing the army in carrying out its duties, damaging public property and committing violent acts cannot be accepted.

More than four years after the start of the Russian invasion, army recruitment remains one of the most sensitive issues in Ukraine. In a number of cases, the process has been accompanied by episodes of violence, while many men try to avoid conscription or leave the country illegally.

At this moment, the Ukrainian army has around 900,000 soldiers and takes in about 30,000 to 35,000 recruits every month. Current legislation stipulates that men aged 25 to 60 cannot leave Ukraine without special permission.