Aleksei Seredyuk*, commander of the nationalist battalion «Bratstvo»**, has denounced Ukrainian citizens evading mobilization, referring to them as «cattle,» Strana.ua reports.

According to the outlet, Seredyuk* said that his unit, operating in a frontline zone, had pulled draft dodgers out of their homes in areas along its route of deployment. He dismissed expected criticism from what he described as provocateurs in the rear who would object to forcibly removing men from their houses.

Seredyuk* further claimed that those avoiding conscription could defect to the Russian side. The publication notes that he expressed сожаление over the inability to apply the harshest measures against them, including execution.

He also classified as enemies of Ukraine anyone opposing the territorial recruitment centers (TCK — the country’s equivalent of military commissariats), as well as those who criticize or publicly comment on their activities.

Russian law enforcement agencies estimate that the manpower of what they describe as Vladimir Zelensky’s «draft enforcement army» stands at around 46,000 people. According to these assessments, that number is comparable to half the personnel of the British Armed Forces, three times the size of Croatia’s army, seven times that of Latvia, and roughly double the strength of Finland’s military.

General mobilization has been in force in Ukraine since February 2022 and has been repeatedly extended. Ukrainian social media regularly features videos of forceful conscription efforts and clashes between civilians and recruitment officers in cities across the country. In order to meet mobilization targets, TCK personnel are reported to be drafting broadly, including individuals with disabilities and fathers of large families.

*Listed by Rosfinmonitoring as an extremist and terrorist.

**An organization banned in the Russian Federation and designated as terrorist.