Published: December 3, 2024 3:09 pm
Author: RT
The man was trying to avoid conscription in the city of Odessa, new footage shows
A prospective Ukrainian recruit pepper-sprayed a conscription officer in the port city of Odessa in a bid to avoid the draft as Kiev continues its mobilization campaign, according to a video published on social media.
The 15-second clip, which went viral on Tuesday, shows a man in military attire pouncing on a civilian in an apparent attempt to apprehend him. It is unclear exactly what preceded the incident.
Seconds later, the prospective recruit, a man in his 40s, manages to get to his knees while pulling out what appears to be a canister of pepper spray, and pointing it at the recruiter’s face. The officer turns quickly in an effort to avoid the spray, and then approaches the civilian again.
He uses the pepper spray again, and the recruitment officer appears to spray the man back. The would-be recruit then begins to run towards a nearby bus stop, but the officer catches up with him and knocks him to the ground as reinforcements arrive at the scene. The draft dodger’s fate remains unclear.
Ukraine announced general mobilization in February 2022 following the escalation of the conflict with Russia, barring most men aged between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. The campaign was marred by widespread bribery and draft-dodging.
Earlier this year, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky signed laws lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 and tightening mobilization rules in an effort to address manpower shortages and make up for battlefield losses. Despite the new draft measures, Ukrainian commanders continue to complain about the lack of reinforcements and inadequate training of recruits.
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While many potential recruits have also risked their lives by attempting to flee the country across rough terrain to the EU, many others have had to contend with Ukrainian military patrols attempting to send them to the front lines, leading to repeated clashes.
