Faced with a shortage of soldiers, Ukraine has sometimes resorted to extreme measures.
In an interview with German channel ARD, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that some representatives of recruitment offices have already forcibly enlisted some men of combat age.
“Yes, there were such cases
,” said the Ukrainian head of state.
“Some representatives of the military enlistment offices walked the streets looking for men who refused to mobilize voluntarily, but that was a mistake
,” he admitted.
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On this subject, Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to be
“as fair as possible”
.
“Have there been such cases?
Yes there was.
Was it the right thing to do?
Absolutely not.
They shouldn't have done that
. "
The Ukrainian president indicated that he had asked military and political leaders
“to prepare for the imminent arrival of the bill (on mobilization, editor's note), so that there is no chance that this kind of case figure does not recur
.
A controversial bill
This law, which was to be discussed in Parliament from January 11, has been temporarily withdrawn.
It responded to a request from the Ukrainian army, which had informed the head of state of the need to enlist 450,000 to 500,000 new soldiers.
On December 25, the government therefore presented a bill, which provided for the increase in the age of conscription from 27 to 25 years, a strengthening of sanctions for draft dodgers and the simplification of enlistment procedures.
On this last point, Volodymyr Zelensky insisted to ARD on
“the possibilities of using the digital format”
.
“We live in an era of digitalization, and we are a country very focused on this change.
We can solve this problem in a modern way
,” he assured.
Also read: Ukraine: on the Kupiansk front, soldiers save their ammunition to resist Russian assaults
This bill aimed above all to compensate for the high losses on which the army does not communicate and to relieve those who have been fighting Russia for almost two years.
But the mobilization of soldiers comes up against the need to maintain a sufficient workforce for the country's economic activity.
Above all, certain provisions provided for in the law are the subject of controversy, and
“directly violate human rights”
, as David Arakhamia, head of the presidential parliamentary group Servant of the People, estimated on Telegram.
Among them, in particular, the expansion of the powers of representatives of recruitment centers and the sending of military summons electronically.
The Ukrainian government is already working on an amended bill, which would satisfy the deputies.