The Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine issued notices of suspicion in absentia to six representatives of the Russian occupation authorities over their alleged involvement in organising the forced conscription of Ukrainian civilians in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. The Mobile Justice Team South (MJT South) at Global Rights Compliance (GRC) supported the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office in this case by providing analytical assistance.
According to the investigation, the occupation authorities placed at least 2,700 residents of the occupied Kherson region on military registers for subsequent recruitment into the Russian armed forces. Some of them have already been conscripted.
The suspects include the so-called “governor of the Kherson region”, as well as representatives of occupation military structures and the occupation administration involved in conscription activities.
All six suspects are charged with violations of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons, under Articles 28(1) and 438(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The system was allegedly coordinated by the so-called “governor of the Kherson region”. In July 2023, the occupation authorities established the so-called “Military Commissariat of the Kherson Region” in Henichesk. Through a network of subordinate structures, they collected data on men of conscription age, placed residents on military registers, and organised medical examinations and conscription campaigns.
The investigation further found that the system relied not only on administrative procedures but also on coercion. Men were allegedly forced to undergo conscription measures under threats of violence, unlawful deprivation of liberty, restrictions on their ability to leave dangerous areas, loss of access to social services and deportation. In some cases, torture was reportedly used.
According to prosecutors, these measures enabled the occupation authorities to systematically compel Ukrainian citizens remaining in occupied territory to serve in the armed forces of the occupying power.
Read more about the investigation: https://gp.gov.ua/en/posts/primusova-mobilizaciya-ukrayinciv-do-armiyi-rf-pidozryuyutsya-sestero-predstavnikiv-okupaciinoyi-vladi
GRC Mobile Justice Teams operate as part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA). The ACA is a multilateral initiative established by the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States to support and assist Ukrainian law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting international crimes committed during a full-scale war.
Read more about the investigation in the Ukrainian media:
https://censor.net/ua/photonews/4018401/na-hersonschyni-rf-postavyla-na-oblik-2700-ukrayintsiv