Timeline of events
On January 3 in the settlement of Pulyny (Zhytomyr region), a 50-year-old resident of the community died after being at the local Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support. Events and times were recorded by surveillance cameras; the information was made public by the Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support and the police.
According to the official chronology, on January 2 the man was brought to the sixth department of the Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support as a person wanted for violating military registration rules. After the administrative paperwork was completed, he was sent to a military medical commission (MMC), which declared him fit for military service. The man was waiting for an interview with representatives of one of the military units.
On January 3 at about 11:00 he had a nosebleed — medics provided first aid; hospitalization, according to the Center, did not occur because the patient refused. After being handed a summons for January 5, the man left the premises at about 15:20; shortly afterwards, outside the center's grounds, he became unwell and fainted. Medics performed resuscitation measures, but death was pronounced on the scene.
What official sources say
"The leadership of the Center has initiated an internal investigation"
— Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support
"Investigators have opened a pre-trial investigation"
— National Police (Pulyny community)
The police confirmed the identity of the deceased and his age (50 years). At the same time, official statements noted that over the past month the police had not received other reports of injury or death of men of conscription age in the community.
Family's version and public reaction
"He had the status of limited fitness. On January 2 he was brought to the Center already with a broken nose"
— relatives, interview with the online outlet "Subota"
Social media also mention other deaths of men of approximately the same age in the community, but the police do not currently confirm receipt of corresponding reports. Combined with reports of attacks on Territorial Center employees in other cities (Odesa, Kharkiv), this heightens public anxiety and demands public and transparent explanations.
Context and consequences
This case has several dimensions: medical (the state of health and the care provided), administrative (processing at the Center, the procedure for issuing summonses) and criminal (the presence of bodily injuries and possible unlawful actions). Two checks are currently underway — an internal investigation at the Center and a pre-trial investigation by the police — and they are to establish the facts and responsibility.
Consequence for trust: similar incidents undermine confidence in recruitment procedures. A rapid and transparent investigation is the only way to reduce tension and restore the community's trust in the institutions involved in mobilization processes.
What next
The key now is the results of the internal and pre-trial investigations. They should answer questions about the adequacy of medical care, the circumstances in which bodily injuries were sustained, and the procedures applied at the Center. We will monitor the official conclusions — they will determine whether changes are needed in the protocols of recruitment centers and in the monitoring of individuals' health during conscription activities.
