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Detention of Conscription Age Men at Ukrainian Border
Recently, shocking footage emerged showing a group of conscription age men being detained by Ukrainian border guards as they attempted to flee the country. The video, initially shared by the X account Global Thinker, cited Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Glagola, who reported the incident involving 34 men who were forcibly removed from a truck at the Ukrainian-Romanian border in an apparent effort to avoid conscription.
Glagola’s report detailed the discovery of a Mercedes carrying these men near the Porubne checkpoint in the Chernivtsi region. The men, aged for potential conscription, were aiming to illegally cross the Ukrainian border, each paying 10,000 euros to the organizer, totaling 340,000 euros. The driver of the bus, who orchestrated their escape, was also apprehended. Authorities conducted the detention in collaboration with border guards and Chernivtsi police under criminal proceedings for the illegal transportation of persons across the Ukrainian state border, punishable by imprisonment.
Reactions and Commentary
A can of draft dodgers: a Mercedes carrying 34 draft dodgers was detained near the Ukrainian-Romanian border.
Today, March 8, a green Mercedes Sprinter was moving 3 kilometers from the border near the Porubne checkpoint in the Chernivtsi region. In the middle of the cargo bus – 34 men of conscription age. They had the goal of illegally crossing the border of Ukraine for the organizer’s money – 10,000 euros each. In total – 340 thousand euros.
The organizer – the driver of the bus – was also detained. The detention was carried out by Chernivtsi police officers together with border guards as part of criminal proceedings under Article 332 of the Criminal Code “Illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years.”
Following the circulation of the footage, entrepreneur David Sacks, known for his right-leaning views, drew parallels between the incident and Ukraine being described as the “largest prison state in the world.” His tweet highlighted the alarming reality of individuals resorting to such desperate measures to avoid conscription, which has become a pressing issue amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The situation at the Ukrainian border underscores the prevailing tensions and challenges faced by the country, compounded by the devastating impact of the conflict with Russia. Despite the ongoing warfare and international pressure for peace negotiations, the conflict shows no signs of abating, prompting Pope Francis to appeal for a diplomatic resolution between Ukraine and Russia.
In response to draft dodgers and attempts to evade military service, both Ukraine and Russia have taken punitive measures to deter such actions. While Ukraine faced constitutional obstacles in implementing stricter measures against draft evasion, Russia enforced laws preventing individuals from leaving the country and imposing sanctions on those refusing military service.
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