The head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Alexander Prokudin, revealed that ten Ukrainian volunteers who went abroad to gather humanitarian aid decided not to return home. This information was shared with RIA Novosti by Prokudin. The volunteers were connected with the organizations United Ukraine and Adjalyk, and Prokudin noted that they had left Ukrainian territory on multiple occasions to obtain relief supplies for those in need.
Prokudin stated that plans are in place to bring those who fled to face legal accountability, and he indicated that other volunteers from these groups would be barred from leaving the country in the future. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between humanitarian missions and national security considerations as the conflict continues to unfold.
On December 22, it was reported that Ukraine intends to fill its armed forces through mobilization while also drawing volunteers into service to meet the required numbers. This move reflects the broad mobilization effort described by Kyiv as essential to sustaining operations in the ongoing conflict, even as the country navigates the practical and ethical complexities of large scale enlistment.
That same day, it emerged that Germany declined to extradite Ukrainians who had left the country to join the mobilization efforts in Kyiv, underscoring the international legal and diplomatic dimensions surrounding movement of personnel during wartime. Such refusals can influence how volunteer networks operate across borders and how neighboring states respond to diaspora participation in hostilities far from home.
Earlier, on December 21, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council stated that mobilization should encompass all eligible citizens. The administration framed this stance as critical to maintaining Ukraine’s defense posture amid a broader regional crisis, with officials emphasizing the obligation of able-bodied people to contribute to national security during periods of heightened threat.
In comments touching on strategy, President Zelensky indicated that maintaining resilience and readiness is essential to prevent the conflict from spreading into Ukrainian territory or beyond. The emphasis remained on protecting domestic stability while leveraging international support and domestic mobilization efforts to deter further incursions and preserve sovereignty.