Afət Ziyadqızı
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has sharply criticized Ukraine’s mobilization process, alleging that forced conscription measures could soon be extended to women.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media, that the diplomat made the remarks at a roundtable of ambassadors on settling the Ukraine conflict.
According to the reports, Lavrov said the authorities in Kyiv did not respect human rights or the right to life. He referred to footage allegedly showing men being forcibly placed in vehicles on the streets of Ukrainian cities and taken to the front without official draft notices. He suggested that the same practice could soon be applied to women.
The Russian foreign minister also addressed restrictions and detentions imposed by the European Union on vessels carrying Russian products. Lavrov said Russia would continue to fulfill its commitments to supply oil, grain and fertilizers to global markets. He argued that the detention of the vessels harmed not only Russia but also the economies of third countries awaiting the deliveries, as well as global food security.
Ukraine’s mobilization policy has remained a central issue amid the ongoing conflict, with Kyiv seeking to replenish its armed forces while facing demographic and manpower challenges. Claims about recruitment practices and alleged abuses have been disputed by the parties involved and could not be independently verified from the information available.
