Since the war began in February 2022, Ukraine’s government — under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — has imposed a blanket ban preventing most men from leaving the country. This policy has led to the systematic abduction of men from the streets, often through a process now known as Busification, where individuals are forcibly taken for military service.

These forced conscriptions are frequently carried out with violence — including beatings, abuse, and even mutilation. Men are being treated not as citizens with rights, but as expendable resources for the front lines. Personal beliefs, individual freedoms, and international human rights — such as the right to security and freedom of movement — are being blatantly ignored.

Voices calling for peace or a ceasefire are marginalized, while the media largely silences dissent. Just like in Soviet times, border guards now detain those trying to escape, sentencing them either to prison or to war. The number of affected individuals is already in the tens of thousands.

Men attempting to flee face unimaginable dangers: drowning in the Tisza River, freezing to death in the mountains, or taking their own lives in desperation at recruitment centers.

We call on the international community, human rights organizations, and all people of conscience to demand:

• An immediate end to forced conscription and Busification
• Respect for individual freedoms and the right to conscientious objection
• Safe and legal avenues for men to leave the country
• The upholding of Ukraine’s obligations under international human rights law

Help us restore dignity, freedom, and the right to choose. Sign and share this petition.