Russian Forces Also Forcibly Conscripting Ukrainian Men into Their Own Military

Protests Continue Against Reserve Mobilization Order in Russia

On the 21st (local time), police in downtown Moscow, Russia, arrested a protester who was demonstrating against the partial mobilization order for reservists. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Reports have emerged that Russian forces are conscripting Ukrainian men in occupied territories such as Kherson.

Recently, The New York Times (NYT), citing Ukrainian government officials and local residents, reported that Russian forces are prohibiting the departure of Ukrainian men aged 18 to 35 living in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and are in the process of verifying their military service status.

Local residents are hiding in basements or attempting to escape to avoid conscription. Katerina (30), a local resident, said, "Everyone is trembling with fear," adding, "At first, Russian forces searched houses, and now they will conscript men into the military. This is all illegal, but it is our reality." Halyna Odnory, who is helping people escape from the occupied areas, said, "Many people call us asking if we can help them evacuate, but unfortunately, there is nothing we can do."

Additionally, the NYT reported that conscription is intensifying in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014. The human rights organization Human Rights Watch stated in a 2017 report that the Crimean Tatar minority is being conscripted to suppress dissent in Crimea. Alim Aliyev, founder of the human rights group Crimea SOS, criticized that 80% of Russian military conscriptions in Crimea have been issued to Crimean Tatars, calling it "a clear war crime that could lead to the mass genocide of Crimean Tatars."

Earlier, on the 21st (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a partial military mobilization order. It is predicted that more than 300,000 reservists will be conscripted as a result.

Currently, opposition to conscription is growing within Russia. According to reports from CNN and others, protests against the partial mobilization order are spreading nationwide. On the 21st, about 1,300 protesters were detained by police across 38 regions, and on the 24th, about 700 protesters were arrested.

Controversy also arose when the Russian Ministry of Defense excluded highly educated workers from conscription. According to the NYT, on the 23rd, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian men with university education working in finance, communications, information technology (IT), and state media sectors are exempt from conscription.