Warsaw has had enough and Poland “won’t protect” Ukrainian “draft dodgers” as fighting aged men hiding in the country has sparked anger amongst expatriates.
The Polish Deputy Foreign Minister has called on the EU for action and are asking for “European solutions” as Ukraine are desperate for more troops and there is an estimated 650,000 fighting aged men living in Poland.
Authorities in Kyiv have lowered the fighting age to 18 as Ukraine has been desperately trying to find men to fight for their “homeland” for the past two years.
Kyiv has recently passed a mobilisation law and have toughened up legal penalties for the “draft dodgers,” the Kyiv Post reports.
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Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna told the TVP state television channel, that Warsaw “definitely won’t protect draft dodgers.”
“When Ukraine turns to Poland with a request, we will act in accordance with Polish and European law,” Szejna said.
Last week the Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz was asked if they will agree to send the draft dodgers back to Ukraine to fight, he told Polsat TV, “everything is possible.”
He has called for “European solutions,” adding, “I know that talks between Kyiv and Brussels on this topic are ongoing.”
He said, “At the European level will ensure full effectiveness.”
Last week Kosiniak-Kamysz said, “I think many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we have to make to help Ukraine.”
Adding, “However, the form of assistance [Poland provides] depends on the Ukrainian side.”
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed a ban on issuing new passports to those fighting aged men who are choosing to stay abroad instead for fighting for their “homeland.”
President Zelensky has made this move to stop men from fleeing Ukraine to do their patriotic duty and fight against Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said last week, “A man of conscription age went abroad, showed his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state.
“It does not work this way. Our country is at war.
“If anyone believes that while someone is fighting far away at the front line and risking his or her life for this state, someone else is staying abroad but receiving services from this state, then this is not how it works.
“Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the homeland.”
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