In occupied Luhansk region, "conscripts" threatened with execution for dodging draft

In the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region, Russian forces have launched forcible draft of the local population. For refusing to fight against Ukraine, the invaders threaten to execute male residents.

This was announced by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmyla Denisova, via Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The Russian occupiers are searching the area for men who have moved deep into the occupied territories and to safer locations places to flee shelling. They raid apartments, households, and suburban areas. Conscripts are taken away at gun-point, and in case of any resistance, the men are threatened with execution," the ombudsperson stressed.

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According to Denisova, forcible mobilization of the inhabitants of the occupied territories is prohibited by Article 51 IV of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

"I appeal to the UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations during Russia's military invasion of Ukraine to take into account this fact of Russia's human rights violations in Ukraine," the Ukrainian ombudsperson said.