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Ukrainians Illegally Mobilized by Russia Endure Severe Abuse and Harsh Conditions

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Ukrainians Illegally Mobilized by Russia Endure Severe Abuse and Harsh Conditions
Russian military personnel participate in the parade on Red Square, Moscow, May 9, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukrainian intelligence reports that civilians from temporarily occupied territories, forcibly conscripted into the Russian military, are facing severe mistreatment, including physical abuse and harsh living conditions. This was reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR) on February 3.

According to HUR, in the fall of 2024, thirty individuals from the occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions were unlawfully drafted into the Russian armed forces and assigned to a military unit in occupied Crimea. The project ‘I Want to Live,’ which assists individuals seeking to avoid forced conscription, has documented cases of mistreatment within these units.

Russian military authorities appointed sergeants of Caucasian origin to oversee the forcibly conscripted Ukrainians. These commanders reportedly engage in ethnic discrimination, subjecting the conscripts to systematic physical abuse. The environment within the barracks is described as hostile, with incidents including the detonation of training grenades, the imposition of degrading treatment, and forced observation of religious practices.

In addition to the harsh disciplinary measures, reports indicate that these conscripts face extremely poor and insufficient nutrition. The coercive nature of their enlistment and the subsequent conditions they endure violate international humanitarian law, specifically the Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from forcing civilians into its armed forces.

Between October 31 and December 31, 2024, Russian authorities reportedly mobilized approximately 300 Ukrainian men from the occupied regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. This action constitutes another violation of international law, as it directly contravenes the legal protections afforded to civilians under occupation.

The ‘I Want to Live’ project emphasizes that those forcibly drafted into the Russian military are victims of a war crime rather than perpetrators. Ukrainian officials urge these individuals to seek avenues for safely leaving the occupying army, reinforcing that they are not considered traitors by Ukraine.

Earlier, Russian authorities intensified their efforts to forcibly conscript Ukrainian civilians from occupied territories, using coercion, torture, and the threat of statelessness to pressure them into military service. Reports indicate that detainees in Russian-controlled prisons face inhumane conditions and systematic abuse, with many being forced to take Russian passports and subsequently deployed to the front lines.

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