Debate about Ukrainians abroad: “Now you can’t just leave”

Who escaped? Who fought? Ukraine is discussing this emotionally. There are temporarily no longer any consular services for refugee men of military age – which is causing an uproar.

It is an angry crowd that has gathered in front of a Ukrainian passport office in Warsaw. Consular services are currently suspended – Ukrainians abroad, for example, can no longer apply for a passport.

The pressure on men is increasing – even if they are no longer in the country. That’s what the Ukrainian Foreign Minister wants. Dmytro Kuleba talks about fairness. A stay abroad does not release you from your obligation to your home country.

The Ukrainian truck driver Maksym has no understanding for this in the Polish capital: “This is a fight against people who are fleeing the army. But we weren’t asked why we went abroad. I’m here legally. The mobilization law isn’t there yet came into force, but it is already being applied here.”

“The units are significantly understaffed”

After months of struggle, the Ukrainian parliament introduced a new mobilization law in April. This is intended to allow more men to be drafted. Because in Ukraine only a few men volunteer for army service.

On the contrary: many men are hiding or leaving the country. According to reports from the Austrian “Express”, 650,000 men of military age are said to be in the European Union.

In addition to a lot of ammunition, the Ukrainian army is also lacking personnel, soldier Ihor Firsov told Ukrainian media. “You have to say things as they are,” says Firsow. “The personnel situation is difficult. The units are significantly understaffed. This is probably no secret, but the main problem is not with the technology or the ammunition – but with the personnel. Everything that drives, shoots and flies is ultimately operated by people.”

Men should renew registration data

Conscription into the military is criticized by many as ineffective. The authorities often simply lack data. Because many people do not live at the address where they are registered. With the new law, men are now required to renew their registration details.

And that should also apply abroad, argues Roman Kostenko from the opposition Golos party. “Conscripts abroad also have to renew their data. And the state should do everything to ensure that these people come back. There should not be two classes – those who fight and those who are subject to military service but are looking for ways and means to do so abroad remain.”

Call for “justice”

Kostenko fought himself, is well connected in the military and knows the problems of soldiers. For many on the front lines, the debate is primarily about justice. Many soldiers have been deployed for almost two years without breaks. There is little chance of leaving the army – also because of the lack of personnel.

For MP Kostenko, however, the Foreign Ministry’s initiative also has a very practical side: “Then at least we know what we can expect, how many people. If we don’t know how many staff are available to us, then we can’t plan . And whether we attack, defend or negotiate – it all depends on the planning.”

Conscripts repeatedly arrested by force

Because the registration addresses are often out of date, the draft authorities often resort to brutal methods. A number of videos are circulating on the Internet showing men in uniform using force to arrest those capable of military service. At bus stops, on the way to work or in gyms.

The men in Kiev are taking a more prudent approach, as shown in a report by journalists from “Slidstvo Info”. They go door to door – but rarely meet men in the apartments. Women often open the door and do not provide any information about where their husband or son is. The fear of the front is too great.

The anger is growing

A resident insults them from the balcony. The woman angrily storms towards the uniformed men. It’s not an isolated case. The men were in action themselves – and were injured at the front. In their work for the draft authority, they often felt the anger of the civilian population. They would be asked why they didn’t fight but instead looked for other men. “People say very hurtful things without knowing us,” says one of the men.

The three employees of the draft authority show the resident her war injuries – but the woman doesn’t want to calm down. Three men in her family have already been drafted, she says. Men are not afraid of the authorities, replies one of the uniformed men. After all, anyone who runs away is not a man.

“Now you have to fight for your country”

This is how many people in Ukraine think. Also Lilia. The young woman from Butscha only recently joined the army herself. Her boyfriend was seriously injured in the war and her brother was killed. “I came back,” she says. “When the war started, I was abroad. I could have stayed, built a life there. I had an apartment, a good job. I left everything behind and returned to Ukraine. We are needed here now. Now “You have to fight for your country and not just run away.”

Lilia doesn’t know exactly how many friends and acquaintances she has lost in the war. She says she has stopped counting. She donates almost all of her money to the army. She can barely afford the fuel for her car. Lilia has no sympathy for those who have left the country. “They shouldn’t come back. I firmly believe in victory. I don’t want to imagine anything else. We don’t need those who only return after victory. If they don’t believe in the country now, then we don’t need them either .”

Populism or the pursuit of justice?

But it is not that easy. Many argue that Ukraine is dependent on the many refugees after the war, especially from an economic perspective. Experts therefore consider the Foreign Ministry’s move to be populism that would not change the real problems.

This is also how the opposition MP Ivanna Klympush-Zynzadze sees it. “The law does not give us the opportunity to conscript our citizens into the army,” she says. “This step, and an illegal one at that, will have damaging effects. Many Ukrainians will look for legal and illegal ways to obtain residence permits or citizenship in other countries. It cannot be in our interests to address the demographic crisis that is upon us should be made even more stringent.”

Human rights activists warn of division

Many Ukrainians abroad are increasingly reluctant to return to Ukraine. Many critics see it similarly. The Ukrainian leadership would contribute to further division in society, say human rights activists. And it would push away people abroad who actually identified with Ukraine.

One of them is Dima, who now lives in Germany. Dima could be drafted into Ukraine. “Anyone who wants to return would do so. But there is nothing more valuable than life,” he says. “Houses, apartments, cars, business – you can leave all of that behind in order not to die. We have already made our choice. You can argue about whether that is right or not. But your own life is more valuable than anything else. Man can get everything back except life.”

The soldiers at the front are exhausted after two years of war and need relief. But hardly anyone wants to fight in a deadlocked trench war without enough ammunition. Ukrainian society must have a painful debate.