Mar 11, 2024, 04:47PM ISTSource: TOI.in
Amid heightened tensions on the Ukraine border, security measures are tightened not against external threats but to contain Ukrainian men. Since Russia’s invasion, leaving for men capable of fighting is illegal, yet thousands attempt it. Alarming visuals depict young men tortured for evading war, caught by border guards crossing into Romania. In a single raid on March 8, 35 men were detained, marking one of the highest numbers of suspected draft dodgers. The ‘New Voice’ outlet’s viral videos reveal Ukrainian men forcefully removed from a minibus, with the driver allegedly beaten for aiding evasion. Despite President Zelenskyy’s efforts to enforce draft rules, young men continue to leave Ukraine illegally. Data indicates over 20,000 Ukrainians were smuggled across the border by the end of August 2023, highlighting the growing concern.