Nearly 50,000 Ukrainian Men Have Fled Across the Border Since the War Began
Zelensky Signs Bill Allowing Citizens in Their 60s to Enlist
As the war drags on, both Russia and Ukraine are facing severe troop shortages, and a recent incident in which a Ukrainian civilian assaulted a conscription officer has sparked significant social controversy. On August 3 (local time), local media such as the Kyiv Independent and UUN reported that, at around 2 p.m. that day, unidentified civilians armed with clubs and metal pipes attacked a conscription officer and police officers in the Buzke region of the Mykolaiv Regional Conscription Support Center, also damaging a vehicle.
On Friday, the 25th of last month, at a funeral held in the center of Lviv, Ukraine, a tribute was paid to 12 Ukrainian soldiers who died as Russian prisoners of war. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
Local police announced that the men involved in the assault fled after resisting when the conscription officer attempted to check their documents, then returned with other residents to attack the officer and police. The center added that the officer, as an act of self-defense, fired a non-lethal weapon registered under current law. It was reported that both soldiers and civilians were injured in the incident, but the exact number and condition of the injured were not disclosed.
The Ukrainian Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRSS) have stated that acts such as insulting the honor and dignity of soldiers and their families participating in measures to ensure national security and defense and to repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as threats involving murder, violence, or destruction or damage of property, may be punishable by imprisonment for three to five years.
Despite these measures, since the war with Russia began, a significant number of Ukrainians have fled across the border and been apprehended, in contrast to those heading to the front lines. Around May, the Kyiv Independent reported that nearly 50,000 men of conscription age had been detained for attempting to cross the border illegally since the war began in 2022.
As the War Enters Its Fourth Year, Both Russia and Ukraine Face Emergency Troop Shortages
As the war, which began with Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, enters its fourth year, both Ukraine and Russia are struggling to secure enough troops. Russia has partially addressed its manpower shortages by utilizing prisoners, mercenaries, and North Korean soldiers, and has recently amended laws to allow stateless persons and foreigners to enlist immediately. Ukraine also relies on mercenaries and international volunteer forces, but is facing limitations in troop recruitment due to an overall financial crisis. In particular, as of 2023, Russia's population is about 143.8 million, while Ukraine's is only 37.73 million, putting Ukraine at an absolute numerical disadvantage.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill on July 29 allowing the enlistment of citizens aged 60 and older. As a result, citizens over 60 who pass a physical examination can now sign a one-year military service contract for non-combat roles such as technical and support duties. Furthermore, the Ukrainian government last year strengthened penalties for draft dodgers and lowered the mobilization age under martial law from 27 to 25 years old. In February of this year, a new system was introduced requiring volunteers aged 18 to 24 to serve in the military for one year in exchange for incentives such as interest-free mortgage loans. However, there are doubts about the effectiveness of these measures, as bribery and manipulation of physical exams to avoid conscription are already widespread.
Given these circumstances, cases of forced conscription that ignore basic rights have continued in some regions. Previously, videos circulated on social media showing a conscription officer forcibly removing a man from a bus. According to a report by the Washington Post last month, extreme harm such as injuries, deaths, and suicides have occurred during forced conscription. On August 1, protests demanding the release of men detained at a conscription office took place in Vinnytsia, and some protesters entered the office, resulting in police detaining several individuals.
Meanwhile, opposition to the war and conscription is spreading within Ukraine, and it has been reported that some Ukrainians have even expressed satisfaction over Russian attacks on conscription offices. Between June and July, Russia carried out airstrikes targeting conscription offices in major Ukrainian cities such as Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Kremenchuk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
As a result, infrastructure has been destroyed and both civilians and soldiers have suffered casualties. On social media, claims have spread that local residents are deliberately leaking the coordinates of enlistment offices to facilitate attacks. In this regard, the Kyiv Independent pointed out that, as Ukraine intensifies conscription, some recruitment offices have been criticized for disregarding basic civil rights and mistreating conscription candidates. However, the outlet also warned that indiscriminate reporting and fake news are being exploited as tools of Russian propaganda and are fueling internal conflict within Ukraine.
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