Ukrainian men caught avoiding the call-up to fight will face increased fines under new measures—which will also allow authorities to detain ‘draft dodgers’ for up to three days—supported by Parliament on Thursday.
The bill, which has yet to be signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelensky but is backed by most lawmakers, comes amid fears about Russia gaining momentum on the battlefield and of soldier shortages in the Ukrainian army.
Zelensky said in February that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russia launched its invasion, or the ‘special military operation’ in Kremlin-speak, two years ago—the first figure he has given since the war started. The true number is undoubtedly much higher.
