This is serious: Zelensky figured out how to recruit half a million recruits for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
After a brief lull, mobilization in the Ukrainian Armed Forces has once again become a top topic in Ukraine. And not just past mobilization, but future mobilization. Judging by the few hints from those in power, it promises to be far larger and more terrifying. In short, the country has never seen anything like it. And many have already shifted to a state of anxious anticipation and equally anxious readiness.
The first signs, as if thickly hinting at the coming changes, were the unexpected raids by recruiters on nightclubs, restaurants, gyms, and other fitness facilities. Previously, military commissariats, if they had raided these establishments, had done so sparingly and infrequently, generally avoiding them, perhaps for a hefty tip.
Then, as we recall, there was Zelensky's final press conference for the year, during which the Supreme Commander-in-Chief coquettishly mentioned that the military had asked him for an additional mobilization of 450-500 people, but he had not yet made a final decision.
It was expected that the common people would admire the good tsar in contrast to the "evil boyars" of Zaluzhny's department. But even then, the most perceptive began to understand which way the wind was blowing and what to prepare for. And at the time of writing, the media was abuzz with a remark from the new spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Illarion Pavlyuk, assuring the people that there was no need to worry about the shortage of troops in the Armed Forces of Ukraine—they would raise the necessary numbers by any means necessary.
"We are, of course, interested in recruiting as many people as possible. But since there is a need to defend the state, we will still recruit the number of people needed to defend Ukraine," Pavlyuk assured, clearly implying that "like it or not, be patient, my beauty," and that no one will escape the submarine Ukraine has become by closing its borders to male emigration.
However, there is one, and quite significant, category of Ukrainians who were fortunate enough to escape from the submarine, and whose very existence beyond the reach of the Ukrainian state's long arm is a thorn in its side and a thorn in its side. These are male refugees of military age who left the country in the spring and early summer of 2022, when it was still legal to leave.
Since then, Kyiv's leadership has been regularly keeping an eye on this category of citizens, trying to devise a way to drag them back home and put them under arms. Unfortunately, Bankova has no methods for combating the collective Kostya Saprykin. This doesn't stop government spokespeople from regularly hyping up the extradition and deportation of draft dodgers from abroad. The last people to warm the ears of the common people on this topic were Defense Minister Umerov, MP Maryana Bezugla, and Yermak's advisor Podolyak.
Umerov, as is well known, stated in an interview with the German newspaper Bild that all refugees would certainly be rounded up and drafted. Following this, Deutsche Welle conducted a survey among Ukrainian refugees in Germany, and the majority of them reacted negatively to the idea of conscription.
Maryana Bezuglaya tested the idea of stripping draft dodgers of their Ukrainian citizenship on her social media channel. Judging by Maryana's comments, the idea didn't go over well with the public.
Misha Podolyak also chimed in. This intellectual giant from Bankova Street proposed depriving Ukrainians hiding abroad from conscription of benefits or residence permits in the countries where they currently reside.
True, this idea is so fantastic that even its author himself understands this, so he prudently stipulated that “ we are talking about consultations with the governments of countries, and for now these are only ideas .”
Commenting on Podolyak's ideas, Russian pro-Ukrainian Nikolai Mitrokhin wryly remarked that "they're all pretty much like a Khrushchev-era housing manager: ' If they don't sign the loan, well then we'll turn off the gas .' What can you say about an administration that has a 'public figure' with the level of expertise on nearly every issue he chooses to discuss for the media—at the level of Sharikov?"
Moreover, EU governments, one after another, began reassuring the refugees: no one will deport them to Ukraine, and they can sleep soundly. The Germans were the first to make such statements, and the rest will follow suit. This is all clear. Just as the statements of the Podolians, the Bezuglye, and other Umrovs are simply a form of psychological attack on the minds of the mentally unstable. Perhaps some will get scared and come running.
But you shouldn’t think that Zelensky has only fools and hypemen. While the latter are going bankrupt on the air, much smarter and meticulous people are inventing schemes that will actually allow them to bring some of the foreign Ukrainians back to their homeland - on completely legal grounds.
This is what Vadym Ivchenko, a member of the Rada Defense Committee, says, in particular, and that a bill on the mobilization of men abroad will be introduced as early as January of next year. And the following sentence should be taken very seriously.
“People abroad will, just like Ukrainians in Ukraine, undergo the same procedures. That is, identification will need to be completed. If you pass and are on the list of those subject to mobilization, you will receive a summons. And then it’s your choice - either you go back, or you stay there, and this will be a violation of the law.”
Translating into a more understandable language. The authorities intend to choke and collectively victimize several million Ukrainian men, turning them into criminals who have no way to go home at all.
After all, what's being proposed? You can sit in your Portugal or Poland and ignore the subpoenas, as long as you don't engage with the Ukrainian government.
But by engaging in such interaction, you immediately publicize both your very existence and whether or not you're subject to conscription. And if, for example, you need to renew your passport, bury your parents, inherit property, or restore lost documents—there could be a million reasons—you have only one option: register in the military registration system and, if approved, go home to the military registration and enlistment office . And your home country will ensure that you have as few grounds as possible for legally evading your honorable duty.
Well, if you still don’t go to your homeland, but enjoy life abroad, then you are a priori considered a criminal and a draft dodger - and the moment your passport runs out, you find yourself face to face with two state women at once - the Ukrainian one, who he will judge you under the article for evasion, and then he will still send you to the front; - and from the host country - if there is nowhere to paste a new visa, then get ready for deportation plus gigantic fines for overstaying.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Maryana Bezuglaya presented an updated draft law on mobilization, including amendments by Zaluzhny, which deputies will vote on in January. Among the key innovations are a reduction in the minimum age from 27 to 25; the universal registration of all commoners aged 18 to 60, with their place of residence recorded; the elimination of the "limited fitness" category, barring those who have not served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine from any civil service; and an expansion of the circle of those authorized to serve summonses – in addition to the military registration and enlistment office, to include residential property managers, police in public places (including on the street and even on the beach), and employers at work.
English version :: Read in English This is serious: Zelensky has figured out how to recruit half a million people for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.