Just an “appeal” to return
Kiev does not want to force Ukrainians abroad
December 21, 2023, 8:38 p.m
Ukrainian men who fled the war abroad are currently experiencing a moment of shock: their homeland is calling them to arms. However, moral pressure should remain the same and coercion will not be used, it is said in Kiev.
The Defense Ministry in Kiev appeals to Ukrainians abroad who have fled the war to return and defend their homeland as soldiers. A ministry spokesman in Kiev told the Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraina. But there are no plans to bring men back from abroad under pressure and call them up, said spokesman Illarion Pavlyuk. He thereby clarified statements made by Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov about the mobilization of men abroad.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are registered as war refugees in Germany and other countries. Officially, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country that is defending itself against Russia’s war of aggression. But many manage to escape.
“The minister calls on all citizens of Ukraine to join the armed forces, wherever they are,” said Umyerov’s spokesman Pavlyuk. “Does this also affect Ukrainians who are abroad? Undoubtedly. Defending the country in time of war is the constitutional duty of all citizens.” At the same time, he said: “If it is about a sanctions mechanism or legal pressure on those who are outside Ukraine, then that is not on the agenda.”
Ukrainian army needs up to 500,000 men
There is currently discussion in Ukraine about how the army can recruit more soldiers to defend against the Russian invasion. The military wants to mobilize an additional 450,000 to 500,000 men. In an interview with “Bild”, Welt TV and “Politico”, Minister Umjerow called the muster notices an invitation to do his civic duty. When asked what should happen to Ukrainians in Germany or other countries who refuse, he replied, according to the translation in the video: “We are discussing this with civil society, with human rights organizations, with other officials from our government, what restrictions we will then impose would propose by law.”
In the English original, Umjerow speaks of “restrictions”. The law will be proposed to parliament. Anyone in Ukraine who does not comply with a summons to undergo a muster has already had to pay fines that start at 1,700 hryvnia (around 40 euros) and increase in the event of a repeat offense. When Ukrainians are mobilized abroad, the military authorities also face the problem of not having their addresses.