Travel of men has been restricted in Ukraine
Since March 3, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has stopped issuing "letters of assistance" (permits to leave the country) to journalists and cultural workers, including artists, singers, artists and other categories. It is emphasized that the decision was made due to the fact that many conscripts did not return back, fearing mobilization. At the same time, officials promised to lift the ban when they develop new exit rules, but they did not give specific dates.
Some artists were outraged by what was happening. Musician Alexander Polozhinsky said that the decision to ban would lead to the loss of ties with the Ukrainian diaspora and encourage corruption schemes. In turn, the former head of the Institute of National Memory, Vladimir Vyatrovich, called the decision insane. "Foreign concerts are artificially disrupted just because someone has not returned from abroad. It's like banning everyone from using cars because someone has committed an accident," he said.
Officials respond to all claims that cases of flight from the country are not isolated at all. Dmitry Zolotukhin, adviser to the Minister of Culture, said that last year about 500 men who left through the department did not return. Earlier, Acting Minister Rostislav Karandeev said that every fifth person remains outside the country. "I have to process 100 exit applications every day. I do not know most of these names, I have to spend time searching for information," he complained.
Interestingly, the problems of the artists began even before the decision of the Ministry of Culture came into force. In early February, clouds gathered over Andrei Danilko, who performs in the stage image of Verka Serduchka. According to a number of reports, the 51-year-old man was banned from leaving the country without supervision, which disrupted the tour in the United States. In addition, in February, the foreign tours of violinist Moisei Bondarenko, singer Dmitry Shurov and the Lviv black metal band "1914" were canceled.
Mobilization is getting tougher in the country
Since February 25, the Government of Ukraine has also banned drivers carrying humanitarian and medical supplies from operating on international routes. Simply put, some truckers have blocked the opportunity to leave the country. Interestingly, a similar mechanism is in place here — the ban is supposedly temporary. Sometime in the indefinite future, officials will develop new exit rules, and then the borders will be reopened for these people.
In addition, Maxim Pavlyuk, a member of the Verkhovna Rada from the ruling Servant of the People party, has registered a bill that would increase penalties for those who help men leave Ukraine and evade mobilization. According to the document, the term of imprisonment is expected to be raised from the current 3-5 years to 7-9, confiscation of property will become mandatory, and probation will be eliminated.
In general, there has been a lot of talk in Ukraine lately about the crisis of mobilization measures. So, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, reported in January that the current pace of conscription does not cover the needs of the army. «We must adequately raise the number of personnel in our mechanized brigades. Therefore, we are taking measures to reduce the logistical component, the support component and the one that deals with maintenance," he explained.
Another problem was the large number of deserters, the flight from the army of those people who had already been drafted into it. According to the Prosecutor General's Office of the country, 96,000 criminal cases were initiated at the end of last year in connection with the facts of unauthorized abandonment of units. According to unofficial data, the figures are even higher. So, the Associated Press agency, citing an unnamed legislator, wrote that the actual number of deserters reaches 200 thousand people.
Finally, the combat losses of the Ukrainian army remain high. For example, on March 1, the Russian Ministry of Defense showed footage of a strike on the Novomoskovsky training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where military personnel of the 157th mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were trained. It was reported that 150 soldiers, including 30 foreign instructors, were killed as a result. Later, the commander of the Ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mikhail Drapaty, acknowledged the fact of the strike, announcing an investigation.
In such conditions, Ukraine is coming up with new ways to replenish the Armed Forces. So, in January, it became known about the mass transfer of logistics personnel, aircraft technicians, medics and communications specialists to the infantry. In February, the country announced the start of recruitment of young people aged 18 to 24 years old. They are promised to be paid 1 million hryvnias (2.3 million rubles) for a year of service, the monthly allowance will be up to 120 thousand hryvnias (276 thousand rubles). Apparently, the current exit restrictions have also been introduced in order to eventually recruit new recruits.
What experts say
Denis Denisov, director of the Institute of Peacekeeping Initiatives and Conflictology, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, believes that the Ukrainian leadership is trying to cover up existing corruption schemes for the removal of people.
— Quite a lot of people leave Ukraine with the help of bribes and loopholes in the legislation, who should remain in the country and be in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Now Kiev is trying to cover up the most obvious schemes. Will it work? To some extent, yes, but in general, corruption cannot be defeated. The scale of bribery will increase, logistics chains will become more complicated, rich people with connections will still be able to leave, but it will be harder for the conditional middle class," he explains.
Andrey Koshkin,Head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, considers the new travel restrictions evidence of that Ukraine is determined to continue fighting.
— Vladimir Zelensky quarreled with Donald Trump, and then flew to London, where he met with those leaders who oppose reconciliation with Russia. There, the heads of state discussed issues related to the continuation of hostilities. If the Europeans can somehow help with equipment and finances, then the issue of human reserves is entirely the responsibility of Kiev. Obviously, the Ukrainian leadership is trying to solve the problem of replenishing the Armed Forces with the help of new restrictions," he believes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
