A scandalous case is unfolding in Kyiv, which may expose systemic issues within law enforcement and medical structures. The Office of the Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was taken to one of the capital's hospitals in critical condition in January 2026. According to medical data, the victim was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and a serious chest injury. The man died a few days after being hospitalized.
Body released without autopsy
A key aspect of the case was the medical response to the patient's death. Dmytro Lubyntsiy, the Ombudsman, stated that in cases of possible violent death, a pathological autopsy is mandatory. However, in this instance, experts were not allowed access to the body: it was released to the relatives for burial without a forensic examination.
"Today, society, the deceased's relatives, and the investigation still do not have answers to the most important questions: what exactly caused the man's death and whether the injuries he sustained were related to the fatal outcome. The absence of an autopsy could have complicated the establishment of the truth in the case and the preservation of important evidence," emphasized the Ombudsman.
Two criminal proceedings
At the initiative of the Ombudsman's Office, the Prosecutor's Office has already opened a criminal case regarding the possible abuse of office by police officers and employees of the Territorial Recruitment and Mobilization Centers (TCCs) and Civil Protection. According to the investigation, these agencies may have been the cause of the man's severe injuries.
Furthermore, another case has been opened regarding the possible improper performance of professional duties by medical personnel. The doctors who released the body without the mandatory examination may now face serious liability.
Mobilization and human rights
The situation regarding the man's death in Kyiv is merely the tip of the iceberg. According to Lubyntsiy, over five months of 2026, the Ombudsman's Office received more than three thousand complaints regarding the actions of military personnel at territorial recruitment centers. Meanwhile, the actual number of violations, according to human rights defenders, could be three times higher.
Every day, new testimonies from citizens about violations during mobilization activities appear on social media. One of the recent cases occurred in the Cherkasy region: a man reported that he was stopped by people in plain clothes who refused to identify themselves. After asking them to explain their actions, he heard threats, and they attempted to damage his car.
"There are no 'right' or 'wrong' victims"
Dmytro Lubyntsiy insists that his work does not depend on public sentiment or political expediency. As an example, he cited a recent inspection at the Odesa pre-trial detention center, where a case regarding the possible humiliation of a TCC and Civil Protection employee was examined. As a result of the monitoring visit, the materials were transferred to law enforcement agencies.
"For me, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' victims. If human rights are violated, there must be accountability for the guilty," stated the Ombudsman.
Recall that in April 2026, the Ombudsman's Office already published the results of an inspection of the Uzhhorod TCC, where numerous violations were identified, including the illegal detention of people for periods ranging from 21 to 50 days. Now, public attention is focused on how the case regarding the man's death in Kyiv will develop and whether justice can be restored.