Involvement in mobilization harms the police’s reputation — Vygivsky
The head of the National Police stated that law enforcement officers’ participation in mobilization activities is not part of their direct duties and has negative consequences. According to him, this practice affects the public’s perception of the police.
The agency emphasizes that involvement in these processes undermines the trust of citizens, which has been built up over a long period of time, and affects the image of law enforcement officers.
This was stated by National Police Chief Ivan Vyhovsky in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the problem is not a reluctance to carry out such tasks, but the impact of this process on how the public views the police.
"The question isn’t even whether we want to or not. There should be no double standards here. How can we be judged on public trust after we participate in mobilization activities? I don’t understand. We are ready to perform this function, we do perform it, but we shouldn’t be the only ones in this process. Historically, this function has been performed by the Territorial Defense Forces," Vygivsky noted.
The head of the National Police emphasized that participation in mobilization places an additional burden on the police, who must carry out their primary law enforcement duties.
“Society has recently taken a negative view of police officers because we are involved in mobilization alongside the Territorial Defense Forces,” noted National Police Chief Vygivsky
“But this is not our primary job, and everyone forgets this when they say again that we must be fully involved in mobilization—that we have many other responsibilities. However, no one has taken away our law enforcement duties; this is all an additional burden,” he explained.
Vygivsky emphasized that such circumstances significantly harm the police’s image.
“That is why I say that this is negative for us and has a very bad impact on our image. Since 2015, we have been building the police’s image and public trust, which is now being destroyed,” the law enforcement official added.
As is well known, mobilization scandals frequently arise in Ukraine, involving representatives of the Territorial Defense Forces, but often police officers as well.
The Rada is preparing to tighten legislationregarding mobilization and military service.
Defermentfrom mobilization: who will be eligible for it starting April 1.
As a reminder, mobilization for conscripts aged 50 and older began in Ukraine on December 1, 2025.
Men over 60 who have reached the age limit may serve in the military only on a voluntary basis. The Contract 60+program was created for them. Such individuals may serve in non-combat roles and must meet certain requirements.
