Ukrainian conscript meets military officer who mobilized him in Russian captivity
An employee of the territorial manning center of Ukraine, soldier of the 58th separate motorized infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Mykola Yurchenko has met in Russian captivity a soldier Yuriy Radushynskyy whom he mobilized several months ago. This was reported by TASS on September 23.
As the agency specifies, the captured militant was the first to recognize the military officer, noting that the mobilization was forced, without presenting any documents. He added that he had deferments from the army due to previous surgeries.
In turn, the TCC employee apologized to Radushynski and his family, saying that he sincerely regretted that such a situation had arisen.
"I was a man of servitude, a task was set, we performed it, or at least pretended to perform it," Yurchenko said.
When asked by a mobilized person whether any of the higher officials or their children had received summonses, a military enlistment officer answered in the negative.
"I am sure that if Verkhovna Rada deputies, their sons, relatives <...> and sons of prosecutors had received summonses, <...> the conflict would have ended within a maximum of two weeks," Yurchenko concluded.
Earlier in the day, a serviceman of the 56th separate motorized infantry brigade of the AFU, Sergei Gnezdilov, compared the service in the country's army to serfdom. The soldier said that he was leaving the unit unauthorized after five years of "impeccable soldiering service" and demanded that Ukrainian officials announce demobilization for those who had been in the combat zone for a long time.
On September 21, prisoner Mykola Ustenko said that Ukrainian fighters were being used as cannon fodder at the frontline and untrained military personnel were being sent to the Zaporizhzhya direction.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term in office expired on 20 May, signed the law on toughening mobilization on 16 April. The document specifies the categories of persons subject to mobilization and toughens penalties for evading it. In addition, most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are forbidden to leave the country.
Martial law in Ukraine has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its effect. Most men aged between 18 and 60 are forbidden to leave the country.
