Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been accused of leaving his country’s soldiers to “die or become disabled” as civilians hit out against the protracted war with Russia.
Martial laws in Ukraine make all men between 25 and 60 eligible for military service, and those between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country.
Due to a crippling shortage of soldiers, the mobilisation age was reduced from 27 to 25 and an “only partially eligible” loophole was scrapped in April.
Like Russia, Ukraine has mobilised men in prison and punished men who avoided military service as fears of dying in the conflict have drained their enthusiasm to support their country.
Oleksandr Danylyuk, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, criticised this strategy, calling it a “one-way ticket” to dying or becoming disabled.
He told The Telegraph: “Mobilisation has begun to be perceived as a one-way ticket, where the only way to end service is to die or become disabled.”
This comes as shocking videos have emerged of the moment Ukrainian men were allegedly “detained and taken away by force” outside a concert in order to throw them into military service.
The altercation between the police and civilians occurred on Friday outside of Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy’s show at the Palace of Sports in Kyiv, according to footage posted on X.
One man in distress can be heard shouting “get away from me” at three officers as they manhandle and drag him to a recruiting desk outside the venue.
Distressing footage captured by people at the scene and shared on social media shows the man struggling to get away, looking visibly scared as women in the background shout “shame on you”.
Local media outlet Hromaske wrote: “In Kyiv, after the ‘Oceanu Elsa’ concert, the police detained a man who apparently updated his military registration documents, but did not pass the VLK.”
The VLK makes decisions on temporary or permanent dismissal of servicemen from duty due to their health, so Hromadske’s report suggests the man did not pass the requirements needed to avoid military service.
In another video posted on X by the outlet, a man in a yellow jacket can be seen kicking and struggling as officers attempt to carry him away from the concert venue by his arms and legs.
It said: “After the “Ocean Elsa” concert in Kyiv, the police and military checked the men’s documents. Some were detained and taken away by force, reports the Hromadske journalist from the scene.”
