Uncontrolled Military Mobilization Practices in Occupied Crimea: Returning ‘Demobilized’ Soldiers and Their Impact
Recent reports from occupied Crimea highlight a concerning trend — the occupying authorities are actively reintegrating recently discharged soldiers back into the military.
This unofficial, yet increasingly common practice involves forcibly re-enlisting personnel who have already completed their service, especially those refusing to sign contracts or opting for retirement.
These measures aim to sustain the combat readiness of units, despite violating the rights of the servicemen.
According to representatives of Ukraine’s president’s office in Crimea, incidents are occurring across various military units, notably in anti-aircraft defense compounds, where commanders insist on re-mobilizing experienced soldiers who refuse to sign a contract.
Human rights activists warn that such practices could become systematic, raising questions about legality and morality.
International experts emphasize that these actions breach international law, particularly Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits occupying powers from forcing local residents to serve in Armed Forces of the occupying country.
Currently, there are no official comments from Russian authorities, but the situation raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of these operations.
Since the start of the year, Crimea has seen its 22nd wave of mobilization, accompanied by the creation of a unified military registration database, enabling the collection of potential conscripts’ data through government agencies and employers.
Many local men seek to evade conscription by changing residence or refusing official employment.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemns these actions as grave violations of international law and human rights.
Tens of thousands of trained combat-ready civilians are already in Ukraine, and increasing mobilization efforts threaten to escalate these issues further.
Analytical discussions question when the Ukrainian Territorial Recruitment Centers (TЦК) operate as legitimate conscription bodies and when they cross into the domain of repression.
More on this topic can be found in Viktor Konev’s article, “Mobilization or repression: where is the line?”.