The occupying power in certain areas of Donetsk region is forcibly mobilizing for military service the men from the local community of ethnic Greeks. They are being drafted under the pretext of “preparing for war with Ukraine.”
This was announced by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmyla Denisova.
“It has become known that men from the village of Styla in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, where ethnic Greeks reside, are being forcibly taken out of their homes under the pretext of being called up for war with Ukraine,” Denisova said.
According to the ombudsperson, in this regard, the villagers turned to the Greek ambassador to Ukraine for assistance, asking the diplomat to provide publicity for the issue.
“It is already known that Andriy Vodolazkin, the father of three, the youngest of whom is five, has been taken to an unknown location . Another man is now hiding from the occupying forces, fearing for his life,” Denisova said.
She added that the residents of the temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been receiving text messages with orders to report to military enlistment offices and threats of criminal liability for draft evasion – something which is prohibited by international humanitarian law.
“Article 51 of the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War prohibits an occupying power from forcing persons under protection, i.e. those under the control of a party to the conflict or an occupying state of which they are not nationals, to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces,” said the ombudsperson.
