RT reported that a senior Ukrainian officer was killed in a car explosion in the Odessa region, as Kiev stepped up military recruitment to supplement its military. The incident occurred in a village in Berezovsky district, and local police confirmed one person had died but have not yet released the identity.
However, local media quoted sources from law enforcement agencies as saying that the detonated car was owned by a local military office. The victim was identified as Colonel Oleg Nomerovsky, a senior official at the regional military center.
According to investigators, the explosion was likely caused by a remotely detonated explosive device, and this could be a deliberate assassination attempt. The incident comes as Ukraine faces growing criticism of its military recruitment methods, as the conflict with Russia enters its third year and the need for combat human resources becomes increasingly urgent.
Since 2022, Ukraine has implemented a general mobilization order, banning most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. By 2024, the mandatory military service age had been reduced from 27 to 25, and sanctions for evasion of duty were tightened.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has repeatedly denied criticism of the issue, calling it a Russian propaganda. With the number of volunteers joining the army declining, Kiev has launched a new campaign targeting men aged 18 to 24, promising a one-time reward of one million hryvnia (about 24,000 USD) for a year of service.
