"Mobilization isn't for the motivated," says a major discussing the potential elimination of the TCC, corruption, and public sentiments.

The topic of Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRSS) has long been quite complex for Ukraine. Loud scandals surrounding "busification", corruption, and mobilization issues... What accusations we do not hear directed at this unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, whose main task is to enlist conscripted individuals to defend the homeland.

Ultimately, members of the Verkhovna Rada have started discussing the dissolution of TCRSS, the formation of brigades from "TCRSS personnel", and the establishment of recruitment agencies based on them. A temporary investigative commission of the Verkhovna Rada is already working in this direction, recently stated MP, former member of the "Servant of the People" faction, Yulia Yatsyk.

Against the backdrop of all these discussions, "Telegraph" turned to its regular source on mobilization issues — the speaker of the Poltava regional TCRSS, Major Roman Istomin, to analyze the situation.

Any structure involved in mobilization will face backlash

— Let’s assume that the process of disbanding TCRSS will be initiated. There has been a proposal to create more recruitment centers instead.

— To date, according to the Regulation on recruitment centers, their activities are informational and consultative in nature.

At the same time, the Regulation on TCRSS defines a whole range of powers and tasks assigned to them. This includes participation in the military-patriotic education of citizens, conducting events for military registration, maintaining military records of conscripts, reservists, and preparing and conducting mobilization of human and transport resources. Additionally, we provide social and legal protection for the families of military personnel and veterans, and assist active servicemen while they are on leave, specifically, the regional TCRSS is tasked with appealing the decisions of district military medical commissions.

These are just the main functions. Overall, the powers of TCRSS are outlined in numerous laws and subordinate regulatory documents. In particular, in the Laws "On Mobilization Preparation", "On Military Duty and Military Service", "On the Defense of Ukraine", "On Pension Provision for Persons Dismissed from Military Service and Certain Other Persons", "On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine", the Statutes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, and others.

— Who will carry out these tasks if TCRSS is disbanded?

— It is hard to say for sure at this point. Currently, these are exclusively our tasks, or at least the majority of those I mentioned. If appropriate amendments are made to the current legislation, these tasks may be assigned either to existing authorities or to some other structure. However, I dare say that any structure that conducts mobilization calls, just like TCRSS today, will face backlash from those who do not wish to defend their country.

— So, will it be necessary to change or repeal the Regulation on TCRSS?

— The Regulation on TCRSS is defined by the Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service". It specifies that the Regulations on recruitment centers and territorial centers for recruitment and social support are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In its implementation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 154, which approves the Regulation on TCRSS.

However, not all the responsibilities of TCRSS are defined solely by this Resolution. For example, according to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, TCRSS considers cases related to violations of legislation on defense, mobilization preparation, and mobilization. This function, previously performed by military commissariats and now by TCRSS, will also need to be transferred to someone else. And such situations are not unique.

— Military commissariats, according to the Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Some Issues of Military Duty Execution and Military Registration", changed their name to TCRSS on October 31, 2020. Although the law itself came into force on April 23, 2021. This took a whole six months. How long might the process they want to initiate now take?

— In fact, the reform of military commissariats began long before October 31, 2020. You are asking me about the disbandment of TCRSS and the transfer of their functions to an unknown entity. This is different from a reform, and currently, there is no clarity on how this might be implemented. Of course, TCRSS will not be involved in this. We are military personnel. If an order for relocation is issued, we will continue to carry out official tasks in another unit. As for the civilians working in the staff, they will have to look for another job.

— From whom should such an order come?

— The activities of the territorial centers for recruitment and social support are coordinated and directed by the Ministry of Defense. They are also the ones who establish, dissolve, and reorganize TCRSS.

The direct leadership of TCRSS and oversight of their activities is carried out by the respective operational commands, while the overall command is under the Command of the Ground Forces, which coordinates the main issues of TCRSS activities with the relevant structural units of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense.

— You mentioned that there are military personnel in TCRSS and civilians.

— The staffing and organizational structure of TCRSS are approved by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The positions are filled by military personnel, civil servants, and employees of the Armed Forces.

Military personnel serving in TCRSS are those checking citizens' documents on the streets and reminding residents of peaceful cities of their duty to defend their country. Most of them have combat experience but were forced to transfer to a rear unit — TCRSS — after receiving a conclusion from the military medical commission about limited fitness for service.

The staff, however, consists of civilians. For example, sociologists. Few know or see the work of others, but it is also very important.

No military personnel likes to be called a worker, meaning a civilian. When this is said or written, it is a mistake.

Cases of bribery are not systemic, but do occur

— I doubt that there will be no bribery in the new structure.

— Unfortunately, the phenomenon of bribery in Ukraine remains relevant, and no structure is an exception. We are not saying that certain areas are completely corrupt. Rather, in any of them, there are individual individuals who allow themselves to step outside the legal framework. There are not as many such cases in TCRSS as may seem. Cases of bribery are not systemic, but they do happen. As public attention is focused on mobilization processes, any case of corruption, even an unfounded suspicion, receives maximum publicity. And Russian propagandists actively contribute to this, as it is entirely in their interest.

— Have attempts been made to "resolve" something through you personally?

— There is no prospect for that. I have a negative attitude towards corruption in all its forms. And I have never aimed to find illegal ways to solve any issues. Perhaps that is why my only "wealth" is a fictional villa in Spain, which was attributed to me by Russian fake news creators.

Not the kind of unit where veterans would like to serve

— Last year, people expressed a desire for TCRSS to be led by individuals with combat experience. Old personnel were replaced with new ones. But it seems that it hasn’t improved.

– People said that TCRSS should be headed by combat commanders — that happened. Then other people started saying that these combat commanders are needed on the front lines. People said that healthy guys who can perform tasks on the front lines are distributing summons on the streets, while instead, those who are injured can carry out notification measures — that happened. Then other people started saying that this is disrespectful to the soldiers who have fought against Russian occupiers, suffered injuries, and became limited in their fitness for military service, but while distributing summons on the streets, they personally receive all the negativity directed at TCRSS… People say a lot of things to justify their unwillingness to defend the homeland. But everyone understands that this is just an excuse. Thus, they find culprits in the military personnel of TCRSS.

— Many of those who carry out notification tasks say they cannot withstand such negative attitudes from civilians and that TCRSS is not the kind of unit where they would like to serve.

— Yes, it is very difficult to receive all the hatred directed at you by people regarding the war. Many cannot endure it and resign, as they have long had the right to do so. There are many such stories. For example, in the Poltava Combined City TCRSS, an experienced soldier who voluntarily went to defend Ukraine back in 2015 served. He participated in battles for Avdiivka, Pop