The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has strongly protested against Russia’s military conscription of Ukrainian citizens living in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

In accordance with international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the occupying power is prohibited from compelling protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces and from exerting pressure and carrying on propaganda at securing voluntary enlistment.

The Russian Federation violates the norms of international law by conscripting the protected population to the armed forces of the Russian Federation, prosecuting those who reject such service, as well as conducting mass military propaganda activities involving people of all ages, including minors, amidst rapid COVID-19 spread.

Since the beginning of the occupation, the Russian Federation has already conducted eleven conscription campaigns, during which about 25,000 people were illegally drafted into the Russian armed forces.

Russia must stop committing such offenses and strictly adhere to the obligations of the occupying power.

We call on the international community to respond appropriately to violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.