Russian forces may conscript Ukrainian youth from occupied territories

The mayor of the occupied city of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, reported on his Telegram channel.

He noted that in April they may start drafting young men from the temporarily occupied territories for military service.

At the same time, Fedorov wrote that Russians had previously stated that they would not conscript young people from the occupied territories to serve in the army. However, they later denied their words. The reason was that the law on spring conscription, which was recently signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, does not contain any exceptions for recruits from the occupied Ukrainian terrritories.

"At any moment, our youth can be drafted into the army and sent to die for the enemy," wrote the mayor of Melitopol.

He also once again emphasized the need to leave the occupation, as it is deadly to stay there.

• On April 3, the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said that the occupiers had begun construction of three new defense lines in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region.