Russia resorts to mass forced mobilisation in occupied territories – Ukrainian intelligence services

Denys Karlovskyy — Saturday, 23 April 2022, 16:44

Ukrainian intelligence services report that Russia has started forced mobilisation of Ukrainian citizens, including healthcare workers, in the occupied territories.

Source: Main Investigation Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

Quote: "The occupants are carrying out forced mobilisation of Ukrainian medics who remain in the occupied territories.

Specifically, in the town of Vovchansk (Kharkiv region), junior medical staff at the primary healthcare hospital are being forced to the frontlines to provide first aid to wounded Russian soldiers. The medics are threatened with execution if they refuse [to go]."

Details: Russia has also been carrying out forced mobilisation of young people in the occupied territories of Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia Regions.

Travel from the Kherson region to the territories under Ukraine’s control is limited for Ukrainians who are being rounded up by the Russian troops to meet the mobilisation targets. Ukrainian intelligence services report that travel to Russia has also been limited.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, according to the intelligence service, Russian military and security personnel are searching for men of draft age. The Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Defence Ministry believes that these conscripts will likely be "thrown" into the most challenging combat areas.

The intelligence service adds that an overwhelming majority of residents of these occupied territories remain pro-Ukrainian and motivated to resist the Russian occupation.

Background:

• Earlier, the Main Intelligence Department reported that Russian forces were blockading captured towns and villages in the occupied territories of Ukraine and firing at volunteers who were delivering humanitarian aid.
• The Ukrainian intelligence services also reported that the Russians were mining motorways, fields, and dirt roads in villages in the Kherson region.
• British intelligence services believe that the Russian army will attempt to achieve some "victories" by 9 May at any cost.
• The Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Oleksiy Danilov alleged that Russia was planning to deport Ukrainians to Siberia upon complete occupation of the country, and force them to build new cities for Russians.