Open source

Ukraine decisively protested against Russia’s recruiting Ukrainians living in the annexed Crimea for military service. This was mentioned in the official statement, which the Foreign Ministry released on November 21.

‘The international humanitarian right claims that the occupant state cannot force the civilians whom it protects to serve in its armed forces; neither can it apply pressure and spread propaganda in favour of voluntary recruitment for the army,’ the Ministry says.

Crimean Human Rights Protection Group, the Ukrainian NGO, as well as their foreign counterparts, repeatedly reported that Russia has been drafting Ukrainians living in Crimea in the army, thus rudely violating its own international commitments.

‘Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands that Russia cancels the illegal decision about military draft in the temporarily occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, adhere to its commitments as it acts as the occupant state and fully abide by UN General Assembly’s resolutions’, the authority said.