The «Honest Mobilisation» movement has published allegations on Telegram against several activists and bloggers, claiming they are allegedly unfit for service, exempt or have evaded military service. Publicly available information regarding Vitaliy Shabunin, Danil Mokryk and Orest Rudyi does not corroborate the key claims made in the post, or offers alternative explanations for their status.
Briefly about the main points
- The movement has published personal allegations against a number of activists.
- Shabunin has been dismissed from service following the findings of the Medical Examination Board.
- Mokryk has published documents relating to the Medical Examination Board and the deferral.
- According to ZMINA, Rudyi has been granted a deferment because he has a child with a disability.
- Deferrals and reservations have different legal bases.
What the Telegram movement said
The post by «Honest Mobilisation» mentions Vitaly Shabunin, Danylo Mokryka, Yuriy Nikolov, Mykhailo Zhernakov and Oresta Rudoy. The authors described them as people who are allegedly evading military service, whilst at the same time speaking out publicly about mobilisation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the situation on the front line.
A representative of the movement Alexei Stalker In a statement released alongside the post, he criticised activists and bloggers for their comments about the military. This is the movement’s opinion, not a ruling by a court or a state body.
The Shabunin case and the Medical Examination Commission’s decision
In July 2025, the State Bureau of Investigation announced to Shabunin suspicion alleged evasion of military service and fraud. The investigation’s version of events relates to his secondment to the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) from September 2022 to February 2023. The Agency stated that the serviceman allegedly failed to carry out his official duties, in particular by visiting restaurants.
Shabunin and his defence team reject the charges and consider the case to be politically motivated. The investigation was concluded in August 2025, and the case is currently at the pre-trial stage; no verdict has been handed down.
In May 2026, Shabunina was discharged from military service on health grounds, following a medical assessment VLC. On 9 June, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv refused the prosecution’s request to impose a preventive measure on him. These circumstances do not provide grounds for describing his release as «sham».
Mokryk and the details of Rudyi’s deferral
On 26 February, Danylo Mokryk published documents relating to his medical examination in December 2024 and the existence of a deferment. He denied that he had obtained the deferral using forged documents and described the circulation of such claims as a coordinated disinformation campaign. According to «Detector Media», it was «Honest Mobilisation» that was the original source of this wave of publications.
Regarding Orest Rudyi, ZMINA reported that, following his medical examination, the Territorial Military Commissariat granted him a deferment on the grounds of caring for a child with a disability. Rudy is a co-founder of the Centre for Political Capital and the husband of the organisation’s executive director, Daria Kalenyuk. Her claim of a smear campaign targeting the Centre for Political Capital reflects Kalenyuk’s own position.
A deferral is not the same as a booking
The Ministry of Defence explains that deferral — this is an individual right based on grounds laid down by law, including family circumstances or health. The reservation, however, is arranged by the employer on behalf of an employee of a critical institution or organisation.
Therefore, the mere fact of a deferral or reservation does not indicate evasion or the illegality of one’s status. With regard to Nikolov and Zhernakov, the materials provided do not contain sufficient reliable evidence to support the key allegations; the editorial team therefore does not present them as facts.
How personal accusations were spread
According to «Detector Media», the newly created «Honest Mobilisation» channel has attracted over 40,000 subscribers in just a few weeks, and its posts have been shared simultaneously by major Telegram channels and various websites. This may indicate that the dissemination of these messages was organised, but does not in itself prove their veracity.
