Russia is preparing its first conscription call-up in the occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region. Moscow aims to expand its influence in the captured territories of Ukraine.
This was reported by the British Ministry of Defense on Twitter (X).
As noted by intelligence, the governor of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region signed a "decree" on the preparation of necessary infrastructure and measures for conscription into military service in the occupied areas. This is the first conscription that Russia will conduct in the occupation.
The British Ministry of Defense believes that the conscription should meet the needs of the Russian forces for additional troops. However, the conscription will be limited as some of the residents have left the occupation. For example, in Melitopol, only 40% of the pre-war population remains, and half of them are ethnic Russians who are offered jobs in the city.
"This decree is also part of a broader campaign by the Russian authorities in the temporarily occupied territories aimed at forcing the population to accept Russian rule," intelligence believes.
The conscription is also a way to verify whether residents of the occupied territories have Russian passports and whether they voted in the "elections" for the president of the Russian Federation
