Inna Sukhorukova, one of the KHPG group monitoring conscription twice a year, reports that in the last two years the Ministry of Defence has done quite a lot to improve the legislation pertaining to conscript service as well as military servicemen on contracts

The Kharkiv Region Military Prosecutor has instituted criminal proceedings over the death of 18-year-old conscript Yury Stashchenko who died from a blow inflicted by a fellow soldier

The Ministry of Defence reports that a conscript in the Kharkiv region has died as the result of hazing and states that an investigation is underway

The 18-year-old conscript soldier died 20 days after being called up to do his military service. Two corporals were sentenced to 5 and 7 years imprisonment for beating him to death

"One wonders whether the officials in the higher echelons of power, in taking such decisions, consider the consequences of such conditions and their legality. The question must arise of the competence of such officials and their familiarity with Ukrainian legislation"

The Ministry of Defence has introduced changes aimed at making medical examinations more transparent and ensuring that young men unable to serve on medical grounds do not need to undergo the same tests each year

Major Vennikov who on 6 August while on duty shot and killed rank and file soldier Pashchenko was convicted of murder and sentenced on Friday 8 December to 13 years imprisonment by the court of the Cherkasy Garrison

At present in all military units in Ukraine officers have been ordered to have somebody on duty around the clock in the barracks. It must be said that it’s not clear how long they will continue to protect new conscripts from bullies [“didy”] in this way.

On 27 November an 18-year-old conscript soldier died of beatings received in the No. 169 Infantry Training Centre in the Chernihiv region. The autopsy showed that the cause of death was a ruptured liver caused by serious beating

On a trip as part of the program of international visits “Protection of civil rights in the USA Army”, 7-25 August 2006

The Prosecutor General’s Press Service reports instructions issued in response to the worrying rise in the number of deaths of military servicemen

On the Third Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, “Ukrainian Context” and why it is specifically the documentary film genre that has proved such a powerful creative means for trying to understand problems linked with human rights

Positive trends, but no reason whatsoever to retire from the scene, with warnings given of continuing areas of high concern

The anonymous survey presents some cheering findings, as does the cooperation the local group encountered, however the level of ignorance about Ukraine’s international commitments is disturbing

Please remember to light your candles on this 16th day of the month in solidarity with those suffering repression in Belarus, and pass on all information to others

The proposed new law recognizes the right to alternative service of those who on moral grounds reject the use of violence.

According to information given by senior lieutenant of justice S. Trubchaninov, a deputy of the military prosecutor of the Kharkiv garrison, during 2005 the officers of military prosecutor’s office of the Kharkiv garrison has taken preventive measures against illegal bullying and other forms of pressure by senior military personnel. As a result, no facts of dedovshchina were registered during the first six months of 2005