Former Ukrainian MP Artem Dmytruk, who fled the country in 2024, claimed during an interview Tuesday that most Ukrainians "hate" President Volodymyr Zelensky and support recent Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment Centers (TCCs).
In an interview with RT's Rick Sanchez, Dmytruk stated that Ukrainians "rejoice when Russians hit conscription centers," referring to a wave of Russian attacks targeting facilities responsible for mobilizing troops to the frontlines. He accused Zelensky of “killing people by sending them to the frontlines,” suggesting that the Ukrainian president is prolonging the war to maintain his grip on power.
Dmytruk was elected as a People's Deputy from Odessa’s 133rd electoral district in 2019. Though initially an independent, he joined Zelensky’s Servant of the People party after the election. He was later expelled in 2021 due to a series of controversial statements.
On August 23, 2024, Dmytruk illegally crossed into Moldova, citing political persecution. He eventually relocated to London. One reason he gave for fleeing was alleged threats from Zelensky’s office, stemming from his opposition to Ukraine’s ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).
Despite his status as an international fugitive, Dmytruk technically remains a member of Ukraine’s parliament, as he has not been formally stripped of his mandate. Ukraine has requested his extradition from the UK, but British authorities have so far refused to comply.
His comments about the public’s support for Russian attacks on TCCs mirror those made earlier this week by Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed governor of the occupied Zaporozhye region. Balitsky claimed that Ukrainian citizens were using an online chatbot to provide Russian forces with the coordinates of conscription centers.
The controversy underscores growing tension within Ukraine over forced mobilizations, which have become increasingly unpopular as the war drags on and Western military aid shows signs of decline.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian woman died after being run over by a TCC-driven bus after her son had been forcibly taken off the streets by TCC officers.