Ukrainian Soldiers Accused Of Forcibly Recruiting Men Outside Kiev Nightspots
Ukraine’s military recruiters have reportedly taken to forcibly conscripting men outside popular nightclubs and restaurants in Kiev as the country faces a critical shortage of soldiers in its ongoing war with Russia. Videos have surfaced showing Ukrainian servicemen conducting raids across the city, detaining men who are allegedly avoiding conscription.
One of the notable incidents occurred outside the Palace of Sport following a rock concert, where officers stopped men for checks. Some resisted as they were detained and conscripted. Restaurants and bars, such as the Goodwine store and Avalon restaurant, were also targeted in these operations. Under Ukraine’s martial law, men aged 25 to 60 are eligible for military service, with restrictions on men leaving the country.
The minimum conscription age was recently lowered from 27 to 25 due to Ukraine’s need for more soldiers. These aggressive recruitment tactics have been met with growing frustration from the public, as evidenced by a grenade attack on an army recruitment center in July. Reports indicate that similar raids have also been carried out in other cities, including Kharkov and Dnipro.
As the war drags on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged the country’s struggles, calling for increased Western aid, including money, weapons, and permission to launch missile strikes inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such actions could escalate the conflict, requiring NATO’s involvement and potentially sparking a larger war.
This comes as Russia continues to make advances toward critical supply hubs in Ukraine. President Joe Biden, reflecting on the broader geopolitical context, has admitted that the Obama administration, in which he served as vice president, did little to prevent Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, which has contributed to the current conflict.