Kremlin Demands Mobilization of Up to 50% of Workers in Occupied Luhansk Region - CPD

Amid the deteriorating economic situation in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, Russia has initiated a large-scale campaign aimed at forcibly mobilizing workers from industrial enterprises for military operations. This alarming development was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine via its Telegram channel.

According to available information, plans for mobilization are being imposed on enterprises in the region, requiring them to enlist between 25% to 50% of their workforce. Experts indicate that this practice is effectively undermining the remaining economic base of Luhansk, as enterprises lose skilled personnel, and production processes either come to a halt or are significantly reduced.

Furthermore, it has come to light that miners, who have already lost their jobs or are facing layoffs, are receiving draft notices. Lists of such workers are being preemptively sent to military recruitment offices, indicating a deliberate policy by the Russian authorities to target socially vulnerable groups of the population as primary candidates for mobilization.

The Center for Countering Disinformation emphasized that, despite all propagandistic claims of 'care' and promises of 'prosperity,' Russia is not even attempting to provide people in the temporarily occupied territories with jobs and decent living conditions. Instead, it is exploiting them as a resource to compensate for losses in its military efforts against Ukraine.

This situation is part of a broader strategy by the Russian authorities, which increasingly resorts to covert forced mobilization measures in light of significant battlefield losses and low recruitment levels for military service. As reported by Ukrinform, such actions by the Kremlin are raising concerns within the international community, as they indicate serious issues within the Russian army and its capacity to conduct war.

In the context of ongoing hostilities and an economic crisis engulfing the region, the mobilization of workers from enterprises could lead to an even greater decline in the economy of Luhansk, which is already suffering from the consequences of war. Many enterprises are unable to operate at full capacity due to a shortage of personnel, which in turn negatively impacts the lives of local residents, who are already bearing the brunt of occupation.

Thus, the situation in the Luhansk region serves as a stark example of how war directly affects the economic and social structure of the region, as well as the well-being of its inhabitants. The recruitment of workers into the military only exacerbates these issues, creating new challenges for the local population.

In light of these events, it is crucial to continue monitoring the developments in Luhansk and other occupied territories, as these could have far-reaching consequences not only for Ukraine but for the region as a whole.