No Gun Rights for Ukrainian Draft Officials: How They Stay Safe During Mobilization.

Oleksandr Obukh: Draft Center Staff Are Barred from Carrying Weapons, Yet They Find Ways to Protect Themselves

According to Novyny.live: Personnel at Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs) are legally prohibited from carrying firearms while on duty. Despite this restriction, some servicemen resort to self-defense measures due to fears for their personal safety. Acting head of the Chernivtsi District TRC, Oleksandr Obukh, stated that current legislation does not grant any special permission to carry or use weapons.

“There is no authorization to use or carry weapons. However, most servicemen are concerned for their own safety, given past incidents in our country—including fatal attacks on military personnel assigned to notification teams.”

Oleksandr Obukh, Acting Head of the Chernivtsi District TRC

These notification teams, which consist of both TRC representatives and police officers, operate daily from 6:00 AM to 7:00–8:00 PM, with only one day off per week. In a related case, the mobilization of men at a construction site in Chernivtsi was deemed legal because those individuals were already wanted by authorities and had been declared fit for service. These factors highlight the critical need for protective measures during official duties and the ongoing debate over servicemen’s rights to self-defense.

Security Challenges Facing TRC Employees

The fact that TRC workers feel compelled to seek self-defense options underscores the high tension and risks they encounter daily. This situation likely stems from broader instability in the country and rising threats against military personnel. Such realities must be taken into account when shaping security policies and laws governing servicemen’s rights to self-defense and their overall safety while performing official tasks.