Statement of the MFA of Ukraine regarding the so-called "military conscription" by the russian federation of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses a strong protest with regard to the forced mobilization of Ukrainian citizens to the russian armed forces, which is carried out by the russian federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, in the framework of the so-called "autumn draft".

By carrying out the so-called "conscription" in these territories, the russian federation grossly violates its international legal obligations, in particular under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of the Civilian Persons in Time of War, according to which the occupying power is prohibited to force people to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces, as well as to exert pressure and spreading propaganda in favour of voluntary enlistment to the army.

We call on citizens of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories to avoid such "drafting" at all costs, and persons who will be forcibly conscripted to the army of the aggressor state, at the first opportunity to leave such units and return to the territory of Ukraine or leave for third countries.

By carrying out "conscription campaign" on the territory of another sovereign state in violation of the norms of international law, the kremlin regime actually delegitimizes it as a whole. Accordingly, conscripts - citizens of the russian federation have reasons not to comply with the illegal "Decree of the President of the russian federation on conscription" and to avoid such "conscription" in every possible way.

In case that conscripts are involved in aggression against Ukraine, we urge you to use the "I Want to Live" project and voluntarily surrender your weapons to the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

It is high time for Ukrainian citizens of the russian federation in Kuban, Starodubshchyna, northern and eastern Slobozhanshchyna within the borders of the current Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov regions of the russian federation, to remember their lineage, their roots and not allow them to be mired in the crimes of the kremlin regime.

Ukraine continues documenting violations of international law by the russian federation and taking measures to hold the russian military and political leadership accountable for the crime of aggression against our state. We call on the world community to increase political-diplomatic and sanctions pressure on the kremlin regime.

We are convinced that the implementation of the Peace Formula, based on the goals and principles of the UN Charter, and the restoration of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine will put an end to the kremlin’s crimes.