Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, has announced a call for Ukrainian men living abroad, aged 25 to 60, to join the country’s military forces in 2024. Umerov emphasized that those who fail to comply with this requirement could face sanctions.
The Ukrainian military wants to mobilize 450,000 to 500,000 more soldiers to fend off the ongoing Russian invasion.
Minister Umerov expressed his intention to enlist expatriate men in military service next year in an interview with Welt TV, Bild, and Politico. He specifically targeted Ukrainian citizens residing in Germany and other countries. The Defense Minister stated that Ukrainians aged 25 to 60 living abroad should report to recruitment centers.
Welt writes that the head of the department spoke of “invitations, but made it clear that there would be sanctions.”
“We are still discussing what should happen if they don’t come voluntarily,” Umerov noted.
While discussing the possibility of sanctions for non-compliance, Umerov stressed the importance of fairness in the process:
“Justice is important. In the future, it should be clear in advance how they will be trained and equipped, where and when they will serve, and when they will be dismissed,” the minister emphasized.
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