ODESSA, February 2. (TASS). More than a third of Odessa draftees have refused to serve in the Ukrainian army, a Ukrainian military official said.

About 6,000 people were conscripted into the ranks of the armed forces, the national guards and the border guard service during three waves of mobilization, while more than 2,500 evaded service. About 900 cases of evasion were referred to law enforcement authorities, deputy regional military commissar Valery Ishchenko told a regional council meeting.

Ukrainian serivicemen in the so-called anti-terror operation zone

Protest against mobilization is growing in the Odessa region. Last Sunday, protesters hung a 15-meter banner "It is not my War. Say Stop to Mobilization" over the entrance to the marine station near the known Potemkin Stairs in Odessa.

Protests with threats addressed to military authorities and demonstrative burning of summons have taken place in many districts in the southern Ukrainian region in the past few days.