The SBU has revealed details of the arrest of TCC employees who were kidnapping people for ransom

The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have dismantled an organized criminal group that included four employees of a local military registration and enlistment office who were extorting money in exchange for helping men avoid mobilization. The perpetrators forcibly dragged men into a service minibus, beat them, and threatened to send them to the front lines with assault troops if they refused to pay. 

The Security Service of Ukraine reported this, noting that during the arrest, law enforcement officers fired at the suspects’ vehicle tires due to their physical resistance.

The latest victim of the criminals was a man from Odesa, who was abducted on Prokhorovska Street and for whom the criminals demanded $30,000 for his release. To carry out their schemes, the gang members used two official vehicles: they kept the victims in one, while the other was used to monitor the situation. Currently, the five detainees are being charged with kidnapping and robbery committed under martial law. While Ukraine’s law enforcement system is being purged of corrupt officials through open special operations, in Russia, similar instances of abuse by security forces during mobilization are typically ignored or covered up by the authorities. The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

On April 21, the Security Service of Ukraine detained military personnel from one of the regional territorial recruitment and social support centers in Odesa.

It is reported that the detention of the TCC representatives took place on Balkivska Street and involved a chase and gunfire.