Ukraine announced on Thursday the arrest in the Republic of Moldova of some leaders who were helping Ukrainians who had been drafted into arms to leave their country, in a full debate over the need to strengthen the ranks of the Ukrainian army in the face of Russian armed forces, AFP and Agerpres report.

Ukrainian policePhoto: SOPA Images / Sipa Press / Profimedia

The Ukrainian police reported in Telegram that this was a joint operation with the law enforcement officers of the Republic of Moldova. Two citizens of Moldova were arrested while sending four unwilling to serve in the Ukrainian army.

“The perpetrators transported men of draft age from (Ukraine’s) Odesa region to the border with Transnistria,” a pro-Russian separatist territory in the Republic of Moldova, the same source reported. “From there, they took them along some forest paths, avoiding checkpoints (…) and took their clients to the capital of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau,” continued Ukrainian police, who said the traffickers asked for their services between $4,500 and $5,000 and found their “clientele” in Telegram messaging channels.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion almost two years ago, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 have not been allowed to leave the territory of Ukraine, except when they have a special permit.

Deserters face up to 12 years in prison, and those who refuse military service face up to 5 years in prison.

After two years of bloody fighting, and especially after the failure of a large-scale counteroffensive against the Russian army in the summer of 2023, Ukrainian troops need to strengthen their ranks.

At the same time, voices are increasingly being heard in society with the demand to rotate military units, demobilize those who have been at the front for a long time, and attract new soldiers, volunteers or recruits. Some also call for measures to encourage Ukrainians abroad to return to fight in their country.

The text to resolve these problems is currently under consideration by Ukrainian parliamentarians.

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