Germany will not deport Ukrainians to serve in the AFU

Germany will not force Ukrainians in the country to perform military service in Ukraine, German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann has said. German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said this, DW reported.

It is not our case to force people to fulfil military service or to undergo military service against their will," the head of the German Justice Ministry said.

Buschmann emphasised that if the Ukrainian authorities wanted to conscript men who had left the country, it would have no practical consequences for Ukrainians living in Germany.

It is inconceivable to me how we can force people from other countries to serve with weapons in their hands, given that, according to our constitution, German citizens are not obliged to do so against their will," the minister said.

He also said that the German authorities were endeavouring to create such conditions for refugees from the hostilities in Ukraine so that as many of them as possible would get jobs as soon as possible and would not live on social benefits.

Earlier, on 21 December, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in an interview with Bild, Welt TV and Politico that in search of new soldiers, the Ukrainian authorities intend to call up Ukrainians abroad, including in Germany, for military service from next year.

According to Umerov, it is a question of inviting them to appear at recruiting stations, and those who refuse may face sanctions.

On the same day, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry explained Umerov's words by saying that "there is no discussion of conscription from abroad on the agenda".