12 Feb, 07:49

Russian diplomat criticizes Ukraine’s 18-24 recruit contract as a one-way ticket

According to Maria Zakharova, "wiping out the Ukrainian people has been one of the tasks assigned to Vladimir Zelensky by everybody behind him"

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Sofya Sandurskaya/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Sofya Sandurskaya/TASS

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Ukraine’s latest move to draft men aged between 18 and 24 for military service as a one-way ticket.

"That’s just a one-way ticket," the Russian diplomat told Sputnik Radio, commenting on the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s decision to offer contract enlistments to recruits aged 18-24. "They [in Kiev] have decided to eliminate their own nationals aged between 18 and 24. <...> This is a monstrous attempt to target another age group," she said.

According to Zakharova, "wiping out the Ukrainian people has been one of the tasks assigned to [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky by everybody behind him."

Earlier, Alexey Getman, a Ukrainian National Guard major (retired), called the move to recruit boys, not mature enough to be mobilized, to volunteer for the Ukrainian army as an interim step after which Ukraine would call up 18-year-olds.

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Foreign policy Maria Zakharova

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