By Jo Harper
WARSAW (AA) – Poland and Lithuania will help Ukrainian authorities return men of military age to Ukraine, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polsat television channel on Thursday.
“We have suggested for a long time that we can help the Ukrainian side ensure that people subject to [compulsory] military service go to Ukraine,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “Many Poles are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much effort we make to help Ukraine."
Ukraine lacks soldiers to fight Russia, which launched a "special military operation" against Kyiv in February 2022, and about 300,000-400,000 Ukrainian men of conscription age are thought to be in Poland.
Kyiv pledged to suspend consular services to Ukrainian men abroad who face conscription into the army after parliament passed a law lowering the age at which men can be called up from 27 to 25.
The authorities have long said they will take steps to bring back to the country men of military age who are abroad. Regulations have also been introduced which stipulate that men aged 18-60 who want to leave Ukraine or are staying outside Ukraine will be able to obtain a passport only in Ukraine.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said his country could follow Poland’s move.