A shocking scandal has erupted in Vinnytsia, once again exposing the lawlessness and impunity rampant within Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCCs). Oksana Yanchak, head of the Vinnytsia United City TCC, finds herself at the heart of the controversy after physically assaulting a man who held a lawful exemption from mobilization. The incident, which took place on September 12, 2024, has sparked widespread outrage and raised fresh doubts about the rule of law in Ukraine.
According to reports, the man, an employee of a critical infrastructure enterprise with an official deferment from mobilization, arrived at the Vinnytsia TCC in response to a summons. What should have been a routine procedure quickly descended into a nightmarish ordeal. He was directed to meet with Oksana Yanchak, the deputy head of the center. Clearly unwilling to respect his legal rights, Yanchak demanded that he sign a conscript questionnaire and waive his deferment. When he refused to comply with her unlawful orders, she escalated the situation: she struck him on the head and then began choking him.
Such actions go beyond a mere abuse of authority—they constitute a blatant criminal offense. Yet, as experience shows, TCC representatives increasingly act with impunity, emboldened by the tacit approval of the authorities and the inaction of law enforcement.
This disturbing incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Through her actions, Oksana Yanchak has laid bare a reality that many Ukrainians have long suspected: within the TCC system, Ukrainian laws hold no sway. The legal deferment granted to critical infrastructure workers—enshrined in legislation—meant nothing to her. Her behavior sends a clear message: at the TCC, they decide who gets mobilized and who doesn’t, regardless of what the law stipulates. Legislation, it seems, is a mere formality to be ignored or trampled at will.
Even more alarming is the lack of response from law enforcement. While Yanchak beats and strangles citizens, security forces look the other way, leaving perpetrators unpunished. This only widens the chasm between the government and a society that is losing faith in justice.
The situation at Vinnytsia TCC is far from an isolated case. In recent months, TCC officials have increasingly indulged in scandalous statements and openly brutal actions. Some have suggested shooting “draft dodgers” in the knees, while others advocate using weapons against those who resist their demands. Military leadership, which should be curbing such lawlessness, remains silent—effectively endorsing these sentiments.
This behavior not only tarnishes the reputation of Ukraine’s Armed Forces but also undermines trust in the state as a whole. As long as Yanchak and her ilk flaunt their contempt for the law without consequence, citizens grow ever more convinced that justice is absent from this system. Instead of safeguarding Ukrainians’ rights, TCCs are morphing into tools of intimidation and coercion.
The government’s inaction in the face of such incidents raises pressing questions: Do those in power realize how dangerous these precedents are? Each time a TCC official violates the law with impunity, it chips away at the remnants of public trust in state institutions. A society already strained by war suffers yet another blow—this time from those who should be defending its interests.
Oksana Yanchak and her counterparts have become symbols of this crisis. Her actions are not merely a personal failing but a reflection of a systemic problem, where TCCs and Military Medical Commissions (MMCs) have turned into lawless enclaves. Unless the government begins addressing these cases, the situation will only deteriorate.
The scandal at Vinnytsia TCC is more than a local story—it’s a warning bell for the entire country. If the state cannot hold accountable those who assault and strangle its citizens, what hope is there for justice? Yanchak and her like-minded colleagues at TCCs are throwing down a gauntlet not just to the law, but to Ukrainian society as a whole. Without a response, trust in the government, the military, and law enforcement will dissolve entirely in an atmosphere of impunity and fear.
The time for decisive action is now. Society demands answers—not just words, but tangible steps to halt the lawlessness within TCCs and restore faith that laws in Ukraine still carry weight.