Reports from Kyiv indicate that Moscow’s attempts to enlist troops from occupied Crimea for the Ukraine war have failed. Russian forces have suffered significant losses, particularly after their recent Avdiivka offensive.
The National Resistance Center of Ukraine, created by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, reported that Russian efforts to conscript soldiers from Crimea have been thwarted. Residents are leaving the peninsula to avoid conscription, leaving Moscow’s recruitment plan unfulfilled.
The Ukrainian centre labels Russia’s mobilisation in the occupied territory as an “international crime,” pledging accountability for those responsible and urging residents to report collaboration with the enemy.
Before the 2022 invasion, Russia was already conscripting men from Crimea in violation of international law.
In another development, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that Russian military authorities coerced Ukrainian prisoners of war into fighting for Moscow in Ukraine, potentially violating the Geneva Conventions.
The US accuses Russia of executing disobedient soldiers and threatening units with death for retreating. White House spokesperson John Kirby called these actions “reprehensible.”
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