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Ukraine Is Putting Pressure On Fighting-Age Men Outside The Country As It Tries To Replenish Forces
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is currently procuring additional weaponry and ammunition from a substantial aid package provided by the United States. Simultaneously, Ukraine is taking measures to prevent the outflow of potential soldiers from the country. It has declared that men eligible for conscription will no longer be able to renew their passports while residing outside of Ukraine.
The Cabinet of Ministers announced on Wednesday that only men aged 18 to 60, who are considered physically capable of military service, will be allowed to renew their passports within Ukraine.
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Ukraine Is Putting Pressure On Fighting-Age Men Outside The Country As It Tries To Replenish Forces
Since Russia’s comprehensive invasion in 2022, a significant number of Ukrainians, perhaps millions, have emigrated from the country, primarily seeking refuge in nearby European nations. According to Eurostat, the statistical organization of the European Union, there are currently 4.3 million Ukrainian individuals residing in EU member states, with 860,000 of them being adult males aged 18 or above.
The defense minister of Poland, which has a large Ukrainian diaspora, expressed readiness to assist in facilitating the transfer of those obligated to serve in the military to Ukraine. However, the minister did not provide specific details regarding the means of assistance.
There has been some criticism within Ukraine regarding the move. Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, an opposition legislator and the chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Ukraine’s European Integration, warned that refusing military-age men access to consular services could result in legitimate legal challenges at the European Court of Human Rights.
“I believe that these actions will simply compel a significant number of Ukrainians to seek alternative means of acquiring citizenship from foreign nations,” she stated.
The population of Russia, which is about 150 million, greatly exceeds that of Ukraine, which is 38 million. Additionally, Moscow has access to a significantly larger military force. Ukraine has decreased the age at which individuals can be conscripted into the military from 27 to 25 to increase the number of its armed forces.
Oleksandr Pavlichenko, the executive director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, expressed that the policy constituted a breach of individual rights and was also unlikely to effectively encourage Ukrainian males to return to their own country from elsewhere.
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Ukraine Is Putting Pressure On Fighting-Age Men Outside The Country As It Tries To Replenish Forces
“It is merely an emotional progression, not a legal one,” he stated. “It will not yield the desired outcomes.”
Ukraine requires additional military personnel to strengthen its forces in the southern and eastern regions, where Russia is aggressively advancing to seize territory from the outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian troops.
The United States is providing $61 billion in fresh military assistance to Kyiv, which serves as crucial support for the armed forces of Ukraine in their ongoing conflict with Russia that has lasted for almost two years. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden enacted the assistance package into law.
On Wednesday, U.S. authorities verified that the United States discreetly delivered a quantity of long-range missiles to Ukraine last month. This was done in response to Kyiv’s urgent request for the missiles, enabling their forces to target Russian forces far away from the front lines. According to sources, Ukraine employed them for the inaugural time last week to target an airfield in Crimea that is under occupation.
The Army Tactical Missile Systems, also called ATACMs, possess a maximum operational distance of approximately 300 kilometers (equivalent to 190 miles). Additional shipments are anticipated to be dispatched to Ukraine as a component of the recently implemented U.S. assistance program.
Russia displayed a contemptuous attitude towards the probable influence of the weaponry.
“This will not fundamentally alter the result of the special military operation. We will achieve success. “However, it will result in further complications for Ukraine,” stated Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of practicality in delivering the supplies. Ukrainian forces have faced a severe shortage of artillery ammunition and air defense missiles for six months due to delays in the delivery of U.S. aid caused by disputes in Congress. The Kremlin’s forces have been able to gradually advance in certain areas of eastern Ukraine, resulting in a predominantly attritional battle.
The Ukrainian general staff stated on Thursday that the situation at the front line continues to be challenging.
According to Regional Gov. Ihor Taburets, six individuals sustained injuries in the Cherkasy region of central Ukraine on Thursday when a “high speed target” collided with a crucial infrastructure facility. According to him, a rescue mission was in progress.
Russian military deliberately attacked infrastructure in northern Ukraine by deploying a precision-guided aircraft bomb on the city of Sumy. The Regional Military Administration reported that emergency services were actively addressing the attack and are still working to determine the full extent of the strike’s impact.
According to regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov, an assault occurred near a railway station in the eastern Kharkiv region, resulting in injuries to seven individuals, as reported on Telegram.
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Ukraine Is Putting Pressure On Fighting-Age Men Outside The Country As It Tries To Replenish Forces
During a visit to Kyiv, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Britain called on all NATO member countries to raise their defense spending to 2.5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to support Ukraine and exert greater pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During his visit on Wednesday, Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt informed Zelenskyy that the United Kingdom is committed to sustaining its existing level of military assistance, amounting to approximately 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) in 2024, for an indefinite period of time.
The U.K. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced that his country’s defense expenditures will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, up from its present level of slightly over 2%. Sunak moreover revealed 500 million pounds ($625 million) in fresh assistance for Ukraine, encompassing ammunition, trucks, boats, and 1,600 strike and air defense missiles.
SOURCE – (AP)
