Russia fulfilled its purpose of mobilizing 1000’s of males in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine final yr, Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Therapy of Prisoners of Warfare, advised the information outlet Ukrinform in an interview Feb. 22.
In its efforts to keep away from an unpopular mass mobilization marketing campaign at dwelling, Russia has illegally drafted 1000’s of residents residing in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, in addition to in occupied Crimea.
Russia exceeded its mobilization objectives for these areas in 2024, Okhrimenko told Ukrinform, citing Ukraine's army intelligence company (HUR).
"In 2024, Russia needed to mobilize 1000’s of individuals from the newly occupied territories and those that had beforehand been underneath occupation," Okhrimenko stated.
"Based on (HUR), this plan has been fulfilled by 104%. They’ve a plan for mobilization right here and for the present yr. It’s also 1000’s of individuals."
Okhrimenko didn’t say precisely how many individuals within the occupied territories had been drafted into the Russian army.
The Ukrainian authorities is engaged on amending laws to take away prisoner of battle (POW) standing from forcibly mobilized Ukrainians who’re later captured in Ukraine.
"There’s a sure authorized incident in worldwide paperwork, worldwide legislation, so we’re engaged on amending Decision No. 413 and a lot of different resolutions," Okhrimenko stated.
Because the begin of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has supplemented its troops by forcibly drafting tens of 1000’s of Ukrainians in occuped territories. Practically 5,500 residents of Russian-occupied Crimea had been mobilized into the Russian military in 2024 — a yr that noticed record personnel lossesas Moscow ramped up its offensive in japanese Ukraine.
Compelled conscription underneath occupation constitutes a war crime underneath worldwide legislation.
The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell