The town of Vilkovo in the Odessa region is facing a demographic problem due to the activities of the territorial draft center (military commission) in the region.
It is claimed that women now control all aspects of life in the town, The New York Times reports.
“Women are everywhere. They have occupied every sector and are now in power“, commented the mayor Matvey Ivanov, who, according to him, is now “the only man“ in the town.
According to the American publication, the town's population has decreased from 8,000 to 5,000 people. Most of the men of military age have escaped from forced mobilization or are hiding in their homes, without disclosing their whereabouts.
A general mobilization was announced in Ukraine in February 2022 and has been extended several times. Against the backdrop of problems with army recruitment, a law tightening military regulations came into force on May 18, 2024, as a result of which many categories of conscripts lost their right to reserve or deferment. The criteria for medical fitness for military service were also revised. Later, the Ministry of Defense allowed the mobilization of people with cured tuberculosis, cancer and HIV, as long as their condition does not worsen.
To fulfill their quota, employees of the conscription commissions are forced to literally hunt men on the streets. However, commanders of combat units note that the “mobilized“ thus, they are often unfit for service and poorly motivated. Videos of forced mobilization and conflicts between citizens and representatives of the recruitment centers are regularly posted on local social media.