The Ukrainian authorities are seeking to boost recruitment to strengthen forces. Image: REUTERS
Urgent Call for Male Citizens Residing Abroad to Enlist in Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, all Ukrainian men residing abroad, regardless of age, would be summoned to report for military service.
He called it a “invitation” but hinted that those who didn’t follow through might face consequences.
A representative, however, later dismissed rumors of a possible call-up.
It is a “sensitive issue” to recruit 450,000 to 500,000 additional troops, President Zelensky said reporters on Tuesday.
It seems like Ukraine’s latest counter-offensive has hit a wall, therefore this is really timely.
Aid support has also hit snags for Kyiv, as Republicans in the US blocked a $61 billion (€55 billion; £48 billion) military package and Hungarian lawmakers blocked an EU finance deal worth €50 billion (€55 billion; £43 billion).
About 768,000 Ukrainian men, ranging in age from 18 to 64, have departed the nation for the European Union since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to an analysis by BBC Ukrainian in November based on data from the European Union statistics agency Eurostat.
Citizens residing outside the EU or those whose foreign residence began before February 2022 are not included in the figure.
It is unclear how Ukraine will be able encourage citizens abroad to join up. Image: REUTERS
Mr. Umerov characterized the recruitment drive as “not a punishment” but “an honor” in an interview with Die Welt, Bild, and Politico.
“We are still discussing what should happen if they don’t come voluntarily,” according to him.
However, a ministry spokeswoman then seemed to reject the involvement of any form of coercion.
“An international call-up is not on the table,” stated Illarion Pavlyuk, as reported by Ukrainian media.
“If citizens of Ukraine want to join [the army], they come to Ukraine to join.”
Outside of Ukraine, there are no recruitment centers, and the Ukrainian government cannot coerce people into going.
Fairness, according to the military minister, necessitates informing mobilized personnel of their training and equipment, their deployment dates and locations, and their discharge dates.
During his year-end news conference on Tuesday, Mr. Zelensky implied that 500,000 Ukrainian forces are presently stationed at the front.
Additionally, he mentioned that there were problems with holidays and rotation. There is a 10-day annual leave limit for both conscripts and volunteers, and they are both required to serve until the war ends.
Alternatively, 617,000 Russian troops are allegedly involved in the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement this week.