Ukraine's parliament approved a bill today that would crack down on people who evade military service. service, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The agency notes that this happened at a time when Ukraine is facing a serious shortage of soldiers to fight against Russian troops who have invaded its territory.
The text, which was supported by a majority of lawmakers but has not yet been signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky to become law, includes increased fines for violators and allows authorities to detain them for up to three days.
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Slovakia announced today that the number of Ukrainians of military age crossing the Slovak border illegally has more than doubled in a year, AFP reported. According to the Slovak Border Guard Service, 338 Ukrainians were detained and then released at the border in the first 4 months of the year. For the same period last year, their number was 166.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed today the bill passed yesterday by the Verkhovna Rada to extend martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine by 90 days, Ukrinform reported.
Yesterday the Verkhovna Rada approved a bill that allows some prisoners to join the army. A new law lowering the minimum age for military mobilization is expected to enter into force within days.
These moves speak to the growing anxiety of Kiev and its allies over Russia's superiority on the battlefield, notes Reuters.