Putin Calls Out Ukraine’s Draft Tactics: ‘Catching Men Like Dogs’ On The Street
Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the Ukrainian military’s tactics in drafting troops for the war, accusing them of rounding up men “like dogs” in the country’s streets.
Putin’s remarks came during a meeting with members of ‘Business Russia,’ where he praised the steady influx of volunteers Russia’s army has seen—a sharp contrast to Ukraine’s alleged forced mobilization practices.
“While the Kiev authorities are engaged in forced mobilization – people are caught like dogs on the street, then our guys go voluntarily, they go themselve,” Putin said.
“They are catching 30 thousand people there now, and we have 50-60 thousand a month enlisting willingly.”
Meanwhile, Western intelligence sources claim that Russia is also facing significant manpower shortages.
They point to the early reliance on Wagner Group mercenaries and controversial tactics such as recruiting from prisons. However, analysts broadly agree that Ukraine’s manpower problems are more severe.
Over the past year, mainstream American media has increasingly reported on Ukraine’s recruitment crisis, including the controversial law banning men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.
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Social media is flooded with disturbing footage showing Ukrainian recruitment officers using aggressive and, at times, violent methods.
Videos show officials grabbing young men from cars at checkpoints, tackling people in the streets, and shoving them into vans.
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Hungarian news channel M1-Hirado recently aired a special segment featuring harrowing footage of Ukrainians being beaten and forced into vehicles during mobilization operations.
Reports indicate that many Ukrainians fear being sent to the front lines immediately after being drafted, often seeing it as a death sentence.
To meet monthly draft quotas, authorities from the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TCK) are employing increasingly aggressive tactics.
Officers split into teams and search various public spaces—cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs—for eligible men.
Earlier this year, Putin also took aim at Western elites, predicting that under a Trump presidency they would be forced to fall in line.
“Nothing has changed. They were happy to carry out any order from Washington under Biden,” Putin stated in an interview with Russia Today.
“They just don’t like Trump,” he continued.
“They actively worked against him, interfering in the political life and election process of the United States. And then they were confused when Trump suddenly won.”
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