Mercenaries planning to join the Russian army to fight against Ukraine were cautioned by Ukraine’s president on Thursday, saying it would be “the worst decision of your life.”
“We have evidence that the Russian military is recruiting mercenaries from other countries in order to con as many young people into military duty as possible,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in his daily video address on Telegram.
“As a result, I am now issuing a warning to anyone who attempts to join the invaders on our Ukrainian soil.” “A long life is preferable than the money provided for a short one,” he stated.
Zelenskyy also stated that he will continue to speak in partner countries’ parliaments and squares to call for an end to the war, the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the restoration of long-awaited peace.
So far, Zelenskyy has used video calls to address the parliaments of Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
On March 1, he also addressed via video connection during a plenary session of the European Parliament dedicated to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began on February 24, has sparked worldwide censure, financial sanctions against Moscow, and an exodus of global corporations from Russia.
According to the UN, at least 780 people have been killed and 1,252 injured in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, while conditions on the ground make it difficult to verify the exact figure.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 3.16 million people have fled to neighboring nations.