The article discusses the conscription of Ukrainians into the military, particularly in the Transcarpathia region of Ukraine, near the border with Hungary. The article highlights that many young men are being forced to join the military and serve on the front lines, while others are being given ultimatums to either enlist or pay “sums” (bribes) to be left alone.
The article also mentions allegations that critics of the government, including journalists, are being targeted for conscription. One such journalist, Oleh Dyba, is on hunger strike in military detention after he was taken into custody for investigating the construction of wind turbines in the Carpathian mountains.
The article notes that criminal cases have been brought against over 50 recruiters who have been accused of violating human rights and recruiting people unfairly or violently. The Ukrainian ombudsman for human rights, Dmytro Lubynets, has received over 3,500 complaints regarding conscription-related human rights violations in 2024.
The article also mentions that the right to conscientious objection was abolished in Ukraine when martial law was declared in February 2022. In March 2025, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued an opinion on alternative service in Ukraine, stating that states have a positive obligation to set up a system of alternative service that is separate from the military system and not punitive.
Overall, the article highlights the challenges faced by young men in Ukraine who are being forced into military service, as well as concerns about human rights violations related to conscription.
