Defence Minister Umerov: Ukrainian men of military age abroad to be drafted into the Armed Forces

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has said that next year, men of military age abroad will be called up for military service in the Defence Forces.

He made the statement in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.

Ukrainian men living in Germany and other countries will be asked to report to recruitment centres. These are men between the ages of 25 and 60.

Those who do not report to such centres will face "sanctions".

"We are still considering what will happen if they do not come voluntarily," Umerov added.

Defence Minister Umerov also recently called on local authorities in Ukraine to further facilitate the mobilisation process. He said that local governments could "significantly" increase the involvement of specialists in the defence forces through a recruitment project.