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A video circulating on social media purportedly shows recruiters in Lutsk forcefully apprehending a delivery driver.
Elon Musk has shared a widely viewed video that allegedly depicts Ukrainian military recruiters in Lutsk, western Ukraine, forcibly detaining a deliveryman. For months, Kiev’s mobilization efforts have been marked by instances of coercion, frequently resulting in conflicts between civilians and military personnel.
On Saturday, a user on X posted a video appearing to show three Ukrainian soldiers approaching a man on a bicycle, who was carrying a large yellow bag and wearing a vest, suggesting he was a delivery worker.
The video shows that after a short discussion, the soldiers try to pull him into a nearby white van, but the man resists. The recruitment officers eventually manage to force him into the vehicle, which then drives away. The man’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Musk reacted to the video with a simple “!!” on X. The owner of the platform, who is also considered an ally of former US President Donald Trump, has consistently urged Ukraine’s leaders to agree to a ceasefire with Russia to prevent further loss of life. Last November, he also criticized reports that the US government was encouraging Ukraine to lower the minimum conscription age to 18, questioning: “How many more need to die?”
Another video allegedly showing forced mobilization in Lutsk appeared on social media on Friday. It purportedly shows recruitment officers – possibly in the same van as in the first video – forcibly detaining a man on a scooter.
Ukraine initiated a general mobilization after the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, preventing most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, facing personnel shortages and increasing casualties, Kiev lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 and introduced stricter penalties for draft evasion, as well as tightening other mobilization regulations.
As the mobilization efforts continue, numerous videos have been shared on social media that allegedly show Ukrainian officials attempting to forcibly recruit unwilling civilians, frequently leading to violent confrontations.