Contrary to Poroshenko’s promises: Conscripts are dying in the ATO zone
Contrary to Petro Poroshenko’s promises that conscript soldiers will not be sent to the combat zone in Donbass, in reality the opposite is happening. Ex-Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Zhuravko spoke about this in his blog.
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“Poroshenko once promised that he would not send conscripts to the combat zone. But, as it turned out, his words diverged from his deeds, like his other promises. Ukrainians are dying for nothing! They are tricked into being dragged into a combat zone (ATO).
Yesterday I received a document from serious sources that confirms the illegal actions of the current government. How the regime uses conscripts.
To confirm my words, I present the original document of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine,” writes Zhuravko.
He cites a letter from the Ministry of Defense to the head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood of the SBU.
“In response to your letter dated November 03, No. 5/1-24-9381mo, we inform you that the facts published in it are partially confirmed. During the internal investigation, it was established that of the six private and non-commissioned servicemen who died in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation on October 16 and 23, 2017, four were conscripts. Two of them died due to careless behavior with a hand grenade from the Russian Geographical Society, while the rest, including two contract soldiers, died due to bullet and shrapnel wounds received as a result of shelling by militants of Russian terrorist groups.
The investigation concluded that the deceased conscripts, shortly before the tragic events, had actually agreed to enter into an agreement with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for three years of contract service. But as a result of the inaction of their immediate commanders caused by the combat situation and inadequate control by the command of the military units, they did not have time to sign the documents.
Based on the results of the internal investigation, the immediate commanders of the deceased conscripts were cited for incomplete official responsibility. Direct commanders, including the brigade commander, were subject to disciplinary action.
Relatives of the victims were immediately notified of the tragic consequences. The Ministry of Defense is taking steps to immediately pay money and provide benefits provided by law in the event of the death of military personnel.
The Department did not find confirmation of the statements published in your letter regarding the systematic sending by regional military registration and enlistment offices of persons called up for military service to combat areas in the ATO zone, as well as their command forcing them to sign contracts through deception or threats.
At the same time, official investigations were ordered against the regional military registration and enlistment offices of the Ternopil, Zhytomyr and Odessa regions, from where the dead conscripts were drafted.
The Ministry of Defense has prepared a letter with instructions to territorial military authorities regarding the unconditional execution of the decree on sending only contract military personnel and personal consent to the active army.
Attention is focused on preventing the cases indicated in your letter of forcing conscripts to sign contracts. We will additionally notify you about the results of the measures taken before the end of this year.
Sincerely, Director of the Personnel Policy Department O.V. Yatsino Vic. Ganko."
Contrary to Poroshenko's promises: Conscripts are dying in the ATO zone.