Ukraine Prosecutes Russian Military Conscription in Occupied Territories
Ukraine is prosecuting individuals responsible for the conscription of residents from occupied territories into the Russian army, a violation of the Geneva Convention. Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Russian authorities have systematically drafted Ukrainian men, expanding efforts since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
In 2024, the conscription process formalized for the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions coincided with a decree from President Putin to make conscription year-round from 2026. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters reports 46,327 conscripts from occupied territories since the invasion began.
Legal actions include 26 criminal cases regarding forced mobilization, resulting in multiple convictions of Russian military officials. Challenges include limited access to occupied areas and obtaining evidence. These cases aim to hold accountable those implementing Russia's conscription policies, potentially implicating higher political leadership.
