In Crimea, the occupying forces are sending draft notices to students and reservists

In annexed Crimea, the occupying military registration and enlistment offices have begun sending out mass summonses to citizens who are part of the so-called military reserve of the Russian Federation’s army.

This was reported by Krym.Realii, citing a Crimean human rights activist who wished to remain anonymous.

According to him, reservists are being summoned to military registration and enlistment offices, where they are handed mobilization orders specifying the military unit to which they are assigned. In the event of a mobilization or declaration of war, these citizens will be required to report to their place of service within two days.

The human rights activist claims that military registration offices have already compiled databases of reservists—including medical personnel—and coordinated the needs of military units stationed in Crimea.

In addition, during visits to military registration and enlistment offices, Crimeans are being offered the opportunity to sign a contract to serve in the Russian Federation’s armed forces. According to the source, this is justified by the possibility of a new wave of mobilization being announced after the elections to the Russian State Duma.

There are also reports of draft notices being sent to students who have completed their bachelor’s degrees and have a deferment from conscription until July 1. According to the human rights activist, some of them are being sent to perform mandatory military service without being given the opportunity to continue their studies in a master’s program.

At the same time, the human rights activist links the intensification of mobilization measures to a slowdown in the recruitment of contract soldiers in Crimea. According to him, local authorities are under pressure to meet their quotas for enlisting citizens into contract service.

It should be noted that, under international law and Ukrainian legislation, the forced conscription of residents of occupied Crimea into the armed forces of the occupying state is illegal.

Earlier,Intentreported that in the temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian occupiers organized a ten-day military training camp for children and teenagers, where they were taught to shoot, operate attack drones, and undergo airborne training.

The event was organized by the “Crimea Patriot Center,” which is controlled by the occupation administration, and the Russian military movementYunarmiya. According to the organizers, the purpose of such camps is to prepare young people for service in the aggressor country’s army.

Juvenile prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General have already served notices of suspicion to eight Ukrainian citizens who, as part ofanorganizedgroup, facilitated the operations of Yunarmiya in the temporarily occupied territories. 

Андрій Колісніченко