Kharkiv Oblast Administration: Russian occupiers fail to force Izium residents into conscription

Denys Karlovskyi – Thursday, 19 May 2022, 15:37

Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, said that Russian occupation forces have failed to force residents of the Russian-occupied city of Izium to join the Russian army.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov in an interview for Focus

Quote from Syniehubov: "According to our information, they really tried to do that [force Izium residents into conscription], but their attempts failed. They actually forced people to either leave Izium for the Russian Federation or join the Russian armed forces. They made them choose between these two options.

We have no information about any residents who have agreed to join the Russian armed forces."

Details: Syniehubov added that heavy fighting between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the occupation forces of the Russian Federation continues on the Izium front.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian occupiers in Izium were forcing Ukrainian residents of Izium to join units of Russian troops.

Background:

• In early March, Russian troops encircled the city of Izium and carried out destructive artillery and aerial attacks on the city.
• Local authorities declared a state of humanitarian disaster in Izium due to Russia blocking all attempts to evacuate civilians or deliver humanitarian aid to those who remained in the city.
• 80% of Izium’s housing stock has been destroyed.
• In late April, Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valeriy Gerasimov, personally visited the Russian command post in Izium.