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Names marked with an asterisk* have been changed to protect identities.
Kyiv, Ukraine –
Artem*, a 29-year-old from Zakarpattia, was detained by a conscription patrol despite having proof he was the sole caretaker of his disabled mother; he alleges he was beaten and coerced into volunteering for military service, eventually paying $17,000 for his release and a fake travel permit. Amid a dire shortage of troops, reports of coercion, corruption, and societal divisions over draft dodging have surged, highlighting the complexities of Ukraine’s conscription efforts.
