Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the partial mobilization in Russia for the war against his country as a “crime” and called on Moscow fighters to surrender. It is better to refuse conscription than to die a war criminal on foreign soil, Zelenskyj said in a video message in Russian on Saturday evening. He volunteered Russian soldiers to become prisoners of war. They would be treated politely.
The head of state addressed the neighbors in Russian for the second time this week – against the “criminal mobilization”. In view of the heavy penalties for deserters in Russia, which Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin imposed on Saturday, Zelenskyj said no one would know under what circumstances the soldiers gave up. “If you’re afraid to return and don’t want a prisoner swap, we’ll find a way to guarantee that too.”
‘Ukraine will do everything it can to win’
Russia’s commanders are not interested in the lives of their soldiers, they are only interested in filling posts vacated by death, injury, imprisonment and flight. “Ukraine will do everything it can to win,” Zelenskyy said. She has the right to defend her children and her freedom against the Russian invaders. Everything will be done for the liberation of all areas, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Zelensky said.
Kremlin chief Putin wants to bring in about 300,000 reservists to hold the areas in Ukraine that are still occupied after the defeat of the Russian army. That is why Putin ordered a partial mobilization on Wednesday – seven months after the invasion of Ukraine. This caused panic among many Russians. More than 2,000 people have been arrested since Wednesday during protests in dozens of cities in Russia.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
