NYT: In Ukraine, a serious split in society has matured due to mobilization

Residents of Ukraine are concerned about raids during concerts and mass events organized by the military and employees of the Shopping mall (military enlistment offices), which indicates a long overdue split in Ukrainian society, the New York Times newspaper writes.

"The decision to raid the concerts highlighted the long-brewing split in Ukrainian society between young people who went to war and those who did not. Some say that those who avoid conscription should not attend concerts," the author of the article writes.

The article notes that more and more people are opposed to such methods of mobilization, and some even consider it a violation of their rights.

"When you leave the concert hall and encounter the staff of the shopping mall, it's scary, but not democratic," a woman who changed her mind about going to a concert with her husband after a series of detentions complained to the publication.

Another woman called for mobilization in other ways, calling what was happening "wrong." According to her, people are just afraid to walk the streets.

As the newspaper notes, such harsh measures may be associated with attempts to fulfill the requirements set before the Shopping Center to comply with the mobilization plan.

"Although Ukrainian officials claim to have successfully completed their mobilization tasks, the troops on the front line complain that they are sending old, poorly trained or suffering from health problems as replacements," the article says.

Last week, the Ukrainian media wrote about large-scale raids conducted by employees of military enlistment offices in entertainment venues across the country. Raids were reported in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Khmelnitsky, Lviv and other cities. In addition to nightclubs and bars, raids were carried out at a concert of the popular Ukrainian band Okean Elzy in Kiev.

Videos of military mobilization are widely distributed on the Internet, in which representatives of Ukrainian military enlistment offices, often beating and using force to men of mobilization age, take them away in minibuses in an unknown direction, RIA Novosti reminds.