“Defectors without documents” –

Ukraine has raised the age of mobilization to 25 and is preparing measures to encourage the return home of men of military age following tightening sanctions for those who evade the draft. “Staying abroad does not relieve the citizen of his duties towards the homeland,” said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon provide further clarifications.” Kuleba did not specify which measures have already been introduced and which are still being studied. A document published by the Ukrainian media, not confirmed by Kiev, suggests the suspension of consular services for all Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60. These include, for example, the renewal of the passport and the issuing abroad of only the documents necessary to return to Ukraine. The drastic measures have been met with criticism and concerns that they might prove counterproductive. In recent months, Ukrainian forces, out of arms and men, have steadily ceded ground to Russian forces who recently captured the eastern town of Avdiivka and are now conquering surrounding villages.

“Today Russian terrorists struck our lives once more. Odessa, the cities and communities of the Dnipro and Donetsk regions, our Kostiantynivka, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson. Every time there is someone who saves human lives, puts out fires, removes mines, helps our people and our communities – in all regions of Ukraine, in every city, in all districts, no matter how close they are to the front line or the border with Russia,” the president wrote Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram. “I thank all those who help our people overcome the emotional and psychological challenges of this time of war. I am also grateful to all those who are already rebuilding life in Ukraine. Ukraine can resist terrorist attacks because there is always someone who supports her,” he added.