In pictures: thousands of Ukrainian civilians mobilize against the Russian invasion

Published on : 02/25/2022 – 17:33Modified : 02/25/2022 – 17:58

Thousands of Ukrainians have answered the call of President Volodymyr Zelenskywhich decreed general mobilization and called on citizens to defend their country against the invasion launched by Russia by land, sea and air on February 24, 2022.

Videos shared on social media show civilians queuing to enlist in the Ukrainian army.

^{Volunteers prepare to join the Ukrainian army in Kiev on February 24, 2022.}

^{A line of volunteers waits outside the Kyiv town hall to sign up, February 24, 2022.}

^{In Rivne, volunteers wait to enlist in the army, February 25, 2022.}

^{The caption of the tweet reads: “A man of 80 years came to enlist in the Ukrainian army, bringing with him a satchel with two t-shirts, a change of pants, a toothbrush and some sandwiches for lunch. He said he was doing this for his grandchildren.”}

^{Volunteers gathered in Lutsk to enlist in the army, February 25, 2022.}

The Ukrainian army strives to consolidate its military power

The Ukrainian president called on Thursday, February 24, all his fellow citizens who are able to bear arms to fight. For his part, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Oleksiy Reznikov, asked all persons in possession of a Ukrainian passport to enlist in the army.

^{“We will give arms to all who want to defend the country. Be ready to defend Ukraine in the public squares of our cities,” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a tweet.}

The above tweet from the Armed Forces of Ukraine reads: “All those who are ready to take up arms, join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We have simplified the procedures. You only need your card of identity. We will give arms to all patriots!”

^{Volunteers came to Poltava to enlist in the army, Friday, February 25, 2022.}

^{In Kiev, volunteers line up to enlist in the Territorial Defense Forces, Thursday, February 24, 2022.}

Many Ukrainian citizens have been training for a possible war since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. In the suburbs of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, civilians were dragged away by the military.

“For the past eight years, our army has fought for the future of the Ukrainian people. Today, every Ukrainian who can protect his home must take up arms. Not just to help our soldiers, but to cleanse Ukraine of the enemy once and for all,” Ukraine’s Interior Minister said on Friday (February 25th).

From now on, all Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the territory. The Ukrainian Customs Service (DPSA) believes that this measure aims to “guarantee the defense of Ukraine and the organization of mobilization without delay”. This temporary restriction should apply for the duration of theemergency stateestablished by Vladimir Zelensky on Thursday February 24, in the early hours of the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian President deplored the slowness of the West to provide aid to Ukraine and called for all Europeans with “combat experience”.

“If you have combat experience in Europe and you don’t want to watch idly by the indecision of politicians, you can come to our country and join us in defending Europe, where it is needed now. “, he encouraged in a video, as Russian troops approach the Ukrainian capital.

>> READ ON THE OBSERVERS: Invasion of Ukraine: images of the Russian army 27 km from the center of Kiev

Queues of Ukrainians rushing to donate blood

Faced with the intensification of Russian attacks and the increase in the number of wounded soldiers, Ukrainians have also been asked to donate their blood. On social networks, images show hundreds of citizens queuing in front of laboratories or ambulances.

^{People line up to donate blood in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on February 24, 2022.}

^{People line up to donate blood in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on February 25, 2022.}

One first assessmentannounced this Friday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports 137 soldiers and civilians dead and 316 injured.

CORRECTION: The original version of this article contained a video purporting to show a Ukrainian man saying goodbye to his daughter before going into battle. The video actually shows a man in the pro-Russian separatist region of Donetsk saying goodbye to his daughter, who was evacuated with the rest of her family.

>> READ ON FRANCE 24: The thread of events on Friday February 25