Ukrainian soldiers during a drill. Credit: Facebook/Ukrainian Ministry of DefenseUkraine has called up the country’s reservists and asked its citizens to leave Russia “immediately” after Russia invaded the eastern part of the country on Monday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Ukraine could face a battle for its very existence, but ruled out a general mobilization in an evening address to the nation.
The decision to bring reservists back into active duty was a further sign that Ukraine was bracing for a possible military clash with its neighbor.
The military said that the maximum service period would be a year and recruits with skills, such as mechanics, will be posted to specialist units. Officials added that people who ignore the call-up could face “criminal responsibility”.
Experts estimate that around 900,000 people serve in Ukraine’s reserve defence force.
Troop and equipment deployments in western Russia. Credit: Maxar Technologies
Meanwhile, Maxar Technologies, a US space technology company, has published several satellite images showing what it says are new troop and equipment deployments in western Russia, and more than 100 vehicles in southern Belarus – all close to Ukraine’s borders.
Russia and Belarus have been staging massive exercises on Belarusian soil in recent days. Neither has commented on the images.
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