Russian occupying troops offer Ukrainians in Melitopol the chance to join Russian army

Olena Roshchina – Saturday, 9 April 2022, 09:26

Russian troops are offering Ukrainian men the chance to join the Russian army in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Mayor of Melitopol, on the national joint news broadcast

According to Fedoruk: "They [Russian soldiers] obtain lists of empty apartments from superintendents of some buildings who agreed to cooperate with the occupying forces. They find out who lives in what apartments – and note where the men are.

As of yesterday, Russian occupiers are offering Ukrainian men, our citizens, the chance to join the Russian army at all checkpoints on the outskirts of Melitopol. If they [the Ukrainian men] refuse, they [the Russians] let them go. But we understand that while today they may be offering [Ukrainian men] the chance, tomorrow they [the Russians] may force them to take a machine gun and go to the trenches."

Details: Fedoruk also said that 8 evacuation buses have been confiscated in Melitopol. As of 08:00 on 9 April, the buses have still not materialised, and people are waiting to be evacuated.

According to the mayor, the occupying troops are creating a "vacuum" in the occupied cities. Russian troops are no longer bringing their own humanitarian aid, but rather confiscating aid sent from Ukraine or from the West and distributing it to local residents to make themselves look good.