In the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 30 will be conscripted into the Russian army until the end of the year. This forced conscription, announced by Volodymyr Saldo, aims to draft men for a 12-month period in Russia’s Southern Military District. Despite claims that new conscripts won’t be sent to front-line areas, the reality remains grim as many Ukrainian citizens have been conscripted to fight against their own country since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Yurii Sobolevsky, deputy head of Kherson Oblast Council, advised residents under occupation to flee to safer regions. This move to conscript residents under occupation is considered a war crime under international law, exacerbating the dire situation in the region. The forced conscription not only risks the lives of Ukrainian citizens but also pushes essential services to the brink as there are fewer people to address issues like power outages caused by winter conditions in Donetsk Oblast. The gravity of this situation underscores the urgent need for support and solidarity to uphold the values of independence and democracy.
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