The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its resolute protest against the war crime perpetrated by the Russian Federation - the conscription of Ukrainian citizens residing in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol for service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Systematically violating international humanitarian law, in particular the provisions of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, the Russian occupation authorities conduct conscription to its Armed Forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

Since 2015, the Russian occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied Crimea have already conducted 12 conscription campaigns on the peninsula, illegally conscripting about 28,000 people, and started a new campaign on 1 April 2021.

The Russian occupation authorities criminally prosecute those who disagree with the compulsory conscription, which is also a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Contrary to the rules of international humanitarian law, the propaganda of service in the army of the aggressor state is carried out, including among children.

We call on the international community to properly assess Russia’s actions in the temporarily occupied territory, to continue and enhance political and diplomatic pressure on the aggressor state to return Russia to compliance with the norms and principles of international law.

Ukraine will carry on with documenting all violations of international law by the Russian Federation and take measures to bring Russia to international legal responsibility.