Olha Modina News Today

Seeking soldiers to replace those killed and wounded in its war against Ukraine, Russia targets young men in occupied regions of Ukraine, using incentives and pressure to entice university students and others to sign contracts.

The occupation authorities in the Russian-held parts of the Donbas have stepped up efforts to find local civilians they claim are providing targeting and other information to the Ukrainian armed forces. The effort appears in many cases to be aimed at settling old scores. 

Over 200 Ukrainian civilians remain imprisoned by Russia-backed forces on illegal convictions after the conflict erupted in the Donbas in 2014. Although thousands of military prisoners have been exchanged since Russia’s 2022 invasion, these civilians remain in a frustrating limbo, relatives say.