Russia steps up oppression, forced conscription in occupied Ukrainian territories
Propaganda to reduce panic in society spreads false and distorted information (Photo:REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)
More and more civilians are going missing in Russia-occupied areas of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said during a press briefing on Nov. 3.
According to Motuzyanyk, Russians are carrying out additional “filtration measures” in occupied areas, and forcing locals to help fortify defensive positions held by Moscow’s troops.
“The number of cases of missing local residents has increased, same with raids to find men of military age, who are then forcibly mobilized…,” said Motuzyanyk.
He added that in order to calm civilians, Russian propaganda spreads false narratives of martial law allegedly promising increased volumes of humanitarian aid.
“We didn’t forget anyone, and will definitely return, victorious,” Motuzyanyk said, addressing the residents of temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine.
Earlier, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Hayday reported that people are disappearing in the region after selective searches.
Mayor of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ivan Fedorov said that Russians started stopping residents of the occupied city on the streets and checking their phones, with any pro-Ukrainian content found could get you detained.
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