Ukrainian military recruitment officers descended upon Kyiv, the country’s capital, in a surprise sweep of restaurants, bars, and a concert hall, scrutinizing military registration documents and detaining men who failed to comply, local media reported on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses claim that the officers stormed the Palace of Sports venue in Kyiv after a Friday night concert by Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy, intercepting men as they exited the venue and forcibly detaining some. Footage aired by local outlets shows officers stationed outside the doors, checking documents and apprehending individuals.
Similar checks were conducted at Goodwine, an upscale shopping center, and Avalon, a popular restaurant. The unprecedented raids in Kyiv reflect Ukraine’s dire need for fresh recruits, as the country struggles to maintain its military strength.
A new law introduced this spring requires all eligible men to register their information online, with those who fail to comply facing penalties. The law aims to bolster Ukraine’s military ranks, which have been depleted due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukraine’s military has intensified its mobilization efforts, with the government seeking to muster more troops to counter Russia’s ongoing aggression. The conflict has been ongoing since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a separate development, Ukraine’s military claimed to have struck a Russian-controlled oil terminal in the partially occupied Luhansk region, which supplies fuel for Russia’s war effort. The terminal, located near the city of Rovenky, was allegedly hit by a Ukrainian drone, with Ukraine’s General Staff stating that the strike targeted stored oil and oil products destined for the Russian army.
Russian state media reported that the terminal was attacked, but claimed there were no casualties and that the fire had been extinguished. However, they did not provide further details on the extent of any damage.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has reached a stalemate, with both sides struggling to sustain their costly war of attrition. Ukraine is seeking to disrupt Russia’s ability to support its front-line units, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region, where the main Russian battlefield effort is concentrated.
Ukraine has repeatedly requested its Western partners to provide long-range weapons to target Russian soil, but has yet to receive a positive response. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that 47 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed overnight into Saturday, with 24 of 28 drones launched against Ukraine being shot down by air defenses.
In a separate incident, one person was killed and 14 wounded in Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. The Zaporizhzhia regional governor reported that two women were wounded in Russian attacks on the capital of the southern Ukrainian region, also called Zaporizhzhia.
