Ukraine raiding clubs, concerts in Kyiv to force men to join military

[KARAH RUCKER]

UKRAINIAN MILITARY RECRUITERS IN KYIV ARE RESORTING TO DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET MORE MEN TO FIGHT OFF RUSSIAN FORCES.

VIDEO CAPTURED BY LOCAL MEDIA SHOW RAIDS OF CONCERT HALLS, CLUBS, BARS AND RESTAURANTS, IN AN EFFORT TO GET MORE SOLDIERS INTO UKRAINE’S ARMY.

AUTHORITIES SAY MEN REFUSING TO SHOW EXEMPTIONS FOR SERVICE, OR WHOSE DOCUMENTS WERE CONSIDERED FAKE, WERE DRAGGED AWAY.

UNDER UKRAINE’S MARTIAL LAW, ALL MEN BETWEEN 25 AND 60 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSCRIPTION AND MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 60 ARE BARRED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

UKRAINE LOWERED ITS CONSCRIPTION AGE FROM 27 TO 25 AS IT FACES A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF SOLDIERS.

UKRAINE ALSO ENACTED A NEW LAW REQUIRING ALL MILITARY-AGED MEN TO PUT THEIR INFORMATION INTO AN ONLINE SYSTEM OR FACE PENALTIES. 

SOME UKRAINIAN MEN ARE REPORTEDLY SO DESPERATE TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE DOZENS HAVE DIED TRYING TO SWIM ACROSS RIVERS OR CROSS MOUNTAIN PASSES AS THEY FLED THE COUNTRY.

ONE UKRAINIAN MAN TOLD REPORTERS HE FEELS IN DANGER OF BEING DRAFTED ANYTIME HE WALKS OUTSIDE.

UKRAINE IS ALSO RELYING ON FOREIGN FIGHTERS AND SEVERAL HAVE BEEN KILLED- INCLUDING A FORMER U-S MARINE AND A U-S ARMY VETERAN.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.