Defence Minister wants to conscript Ukrainians living abroad

Ukrainian men aged 25-60 living in Germany and other countries should report to Armed Forces enlistment centres next year or face sanctions, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has said.

Source: Welt, citing Umierov’s interview with WELT TV, Bild and Politico

Quote from Welt: "Ukrainians living in Germany who are fit for military service should strengthen the Ukrainian army next year. The Minister of Defence said that those who do not comply with this requirement will face sanctions."

Details: Reportedly, Umierov used the term "invitation", but made it clear that there will be sanctions if anyone does not respond to this "invitation".

Quote from Umierov: "We are still discussing what will happen if they don't come voluntarily."

Details: The news outlet reiterated that the Ukrainian military wanted to mobilise another 450,000 to 500,000 soldiers to repel the Russian invasion. However, the financial and political conditions for this step have not yet been specified. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called mobilisation a "sensitive issue".

Umierov said that justice is important. In the future, those affected must know in advance how they will be trained and equipped, where and when they will serve, and when they will be discharged.

Welt writes that despite a ban, many Ukrainian men have fled abroad to avoid conscription.

At the same time, the Ukrainian military is facing the fact that the Russians are increasing the pace of the ground offensive in the country's southeast.

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