Zelenskyy urges residents of Russian-occupied territories to evade Russian mobilisation
IRYNA BALACHUK – FRIDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2022, 23:12
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has urged the residents of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to avoid Russian mobilisation by all means possible.
Source: President Zelenskyy’s video address
Quote from Zelenskyy: "I have a simple request to all our people in the temporarily occupied territories. The most important thing for you to do is save your lives and help us weaken and destroy the occupiers. Evade the Russian mobilisation efforts by all means possible. Avoid conscription letters. Try to get to the free [Ukrainian-controlled] territory of Ukraine."
Details: Zelenskyy advised those who do end up in the Russian army to sabotage all Russian military activities, hinder Russia’s military operations, and provide Ukraine with important information about the bases, headquarters and ammunition storage points of Russian forces.
He also called on the residents of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine who had been conscripted to the Russian army to switch sides "at the first opportunity".
"Do everything to save your life and help liberate Ukraine," Zelenskyy stressed.
Previously: On 23 September, Kremlin-sponsored news outlet Kryminform (Crimeainform), citing press service of Russian occupying authorities in Crimea reported that men who plan to leave Russian-occupied Crimea must obtain a permit from a military enlistment office.
The representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea is urging residents of the Russian-occupied peninsula to evade mobilisation or surrender into captivity, while the Mejlis [representative body] of the Crimean Tatar people is calling for an ongoing protest.
Background:
- On 21 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilisation of Russian citizens.
- Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has announced that 300,000 reservists would be mobilised.
- The mobilisation decree caused panic among Russians who rushed to flee the country. Prices of plane tickets to so-called safe countries soared sky-high, and huge queues lined up on Russia’s borders, in particular with Finland and Mongolia.
- It was later revealed that a paragraph of the presidential decree on partial mobilisation allows the Ministry of Defence of Russia to mobilise up to 1 million people.
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