Ukraine accuses Russia of forcibly recruiting civilians in the occupied territories

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MADRID, 24 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Main Intelligence Directorate and the General Staff of Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of recruiting Ukrainian civilians from the regions occupied by its forces in Kharkov, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

According to the Ukrainian Intelligence, Russia would be carrying out the mobilization of Ukrainian doctors who are in the occupied territories, as they have assured in a statement.

In particular, in the city of Vovchansk (Kharkov region), junior medical personnel would be forcibly sent to the front line to provide first medical aid to wounded Russian servicemen. In case of refusal, the doctors are threatened with execution, according to the Ukrainian intelligence services.

In the Zaporizhia region, the Russian troops are looking for men of military age to replace the combat units lost during the clashes with the Ukrainian Army.

Also, to prevent the flight of civilians in the Kherson region, Russia would have blocked “almost completely” the main exits, according to the Ukrainian authorities.

For its part, the UK Ministry of Defense reminded Russia on Saturday that forcibly recruiting civilians would violate the rules of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in War.

“Any enlistment of Ukrainian civilians in the Russian armed forces, even if presented by Russia as military or voluntary service under Russian law, would constitute a violation of Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention,” British Defense said in a statement. a statement.