A high-profile criminal trial involving members of notification groups from a district territorial recruitment and social support center has concluded in Odesa. The court delivered guilty verdicts against nine individuals found guilty of serious crimes, including illegal deprivation of liberty, kidnapping of citizens, and the use of physical violence. As the investigation under the leadership of the Odesa Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region established, the illegal activities took place in the spring of this year, from April to May.

Essence of the Charges and Methods of Notification Groups

During the investigation, it was documentarily confirmed that TCC employees and involved civilians systematically practiced forceful detentions of men on city streets. Victims were forcibly placed into vehicles and transported to enlistment office premises. These detentions were accompanied by severe beatings, the use of tear gas, psychological pressure, threats, and humiliation of human dignity. In particular, cases were recorded where intimidated citizens were forced to provide personal data of other liable-for-military-service individuals.

Specific Crime Episodes and Marauding

The case files contain shocking details of separate incidents. In one episode, the victim was openly threatened with sexual violence; in another, a man lost consciousness directly as a result of tear gas being sprayed in a confined space. In addition, during one of the forced relocations, one of the defendants committed theft by taking 5,200 Ukrainian hryvnias from the wallet of the detained citizen. Such actions ultimately undermined trust in mobilization procedures and required rigorous legal intervention.

Court Verdicts and Legal Consequences

All nine defendants fully admitted their guilt before the court and the investigation, after which they entered into plea bargain agreements approved by the instance in September-October 2026. Six defendants received actual prison terms, with the harshest sentence being 7 years and 1 month of imprisonment. The rest were given milder punishments in the form of military service restrictions or suspended sentences, along with a three-year ban on holding positions in TCC and JV structures. Proceedings regarding two other defendants are ongoing.