New military draft starts in Ukraine amid intensified assault on militia-held territories

Published time: January 20, 2015 13:46

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AFP Photo / Alexander Khudoteply

The Ukrainian military draft for 2015 has come into effect. It’s expected to see 100,000 people joining the army in three stages throughout the year. The self-proclaimed Donetsk republic says the process is undermining peace agreements.
The first stage of the draft, starting on Tuesday, will last ninety days and will seek 50,000 recruits. Two more stages will follow in April and June.
The main aim of the mobilization is said to be replacement for those on the front line in eastern Ukraine, who were recruited last year.
Those eligible for draft are primarily reserve servicemen aged from 25 to 60. They are supposed to get a month of training before they actually go to the battlegrounds in eastern Ukraine. Women – mostly nurses and psychologists - are also subject to mobilization, according to the law signed by President Poroshenko on Monday.
Joint Staff spokesman Vladimir Talalay has warned those dodging the draft could face up to five years behind bars.

Reuters / Valentyn Ogirenko

The threat hasn’t prevented Ukrainians from venting their anger online at the draft campaign. Many argue mobilization is only possible after martial law has been imposed in the country. The military campaign in Ukraine’s east is officially dubbed an anti-terrorist operation, which people believe is something security forces are supposed to deal with.
“While it’s anti-terror operation in Ukraine (and not war), NO!!! mobilization is possible!” a Facebook comment, cited by RIA Novosti, reads. “Declare martial law first and then mobilization.”
Last year saw three waves of mobilization in Ukraine. Each was accompanied by massive protests from the draftees’ relatives.
“I imagine how many mothers and wives are now thinking of where to hide their sons and husbands,” a female Facebook user wrote about the current draft. “Mobilization or no mobilization – taking men older than 50 is not funny.”
Online offers of help to those wanting to avoid army service have also been rife, ranging from legal advice to selling fake medical certificates.
The self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk has already slammed the new Ukrainian draft as inconsistent with the peace agreements signed in Minsk in September.
The draft comes into effect as Ukrainian troops continue their massive assault on militia-held areas It started on Sunday in accordance with a presidential order.
READ MORE: Donetsk shelled as Kiev ‘orders massive fire’ on militia-held E. Ukraine
Donetsk authorities have confirmed that two people died as a result of shelling on Monday, with the bombardment continuing throughout the night.

A hospital in the city was severely damaged when at least two shells struck it.
On Tuesday, an Emergency Ministry station was shelled in Donetsk and a nearby kindergarten was damaged, reported RT’s Roman Kosarev, who is currently in Donetsk.
In a video by RT’s Ruptly news agency, loud artillery fire can be heard on the city streets as men in camouflage call on passers-by to get down. Another video shows a dead, old man lying on the ground.

Amnesty International earlier called on both sides to protect civilians in conflict zones.
The human rights group added that self-defense forces must not launch operations from populated areas, while Kiev has to stop its indiscriminate shelling of residential blocks.
READ MORE: Kiev’s new offensive in Donbass may lead to irreversible consequences – Moscow
On Tuesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a similar call, saying the intensified fighting in and around Donetsk was hampering the ICRC mission there.
“We once again call on all parties to refrain from harming civilians and to comply with international humanitarian law,” said Michel Masson, head of the ICRC delegation in Ukraine. “In particular, we remind them that indiscriminate attacks are prohibited.”

Passers-by outside City Hospital No.3 in Shevchenko Boulevard in Donetsk's Kalininsky District after the building was hit with an artillery shell during the city's shelling by the Ukrainian army. (RIA Novosti / Mikhail Parhomenko)

The Ukrainian Security Council accused Russia on Monday of sending troops across the Ukrainian border. The security officials said two battalions had crossed the frontier, and promised to provide proof.
Moscow has dismissed the accusations as absurd.
“Yesterday’s claims by Kiev of alleged Russian troops movement over the Russia-Ukraine border don’t stand any criticism. That’s absolute nonsense,” said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
He described the claims as “hallucinations of ‘Russian invasion’ on the part of the main protagonists in the military solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.”
Russia is already doing everything possible to help stop the war in eastern Ukraine, the spokesman for the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov said, stressing that Russia cannot solve this internal conflict.
Peskov said in an interview to the AiF daily that the war there can only be ended as a result of dialogue within Ukraine, adding that it is Kiev who needs to start it. “Until Kiev starts talks with its regions, people will continue dying there.”
While urging the Russian president to solve a crisis in a neighboring state, the West is trying to portray Putin as being part of the conflict. They are trying to isolate him in the international politics, weaken Russia economically and achieve regime change, he said.
READ MORE: Poroshenko rejected Putin’s artillery withdrawal plan, began assault – Kremlin
Moscow believes the escalation of violence might make the so-called “Normandy format” peace talks problematic. The peace talks aim to bring the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany together at the negotiating table.
“A meeting like that could only take place in case its effective result is ensured,” the Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, RIA Novosti reported. “Currently that seems to be less likely than before the renewal of military operations by Ukraine.”
The Russian embassy in Berlin confirmed to RT that a Normandy format meeting would take place on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia.