Players from SC Poltava, a Ukrainian Premier League football team, were issued draft notices after their team bus was stopped by a military patrol on November 2, en route to a match in Gorishny Plavni.
Sports journalist Igor Burbas reported that after verifying the players’ IDs, the military handed draft summonses to the entire team, except one player who was already wanted by the conscription office.
Following the incident, SC Poltava played SC Kudrovka but suffered a 2-1 loss, with Burbas suggesting the team’s morale had been impacted by the surprise encounter. Few football teams in Ukraine have secured military exemptions, reflecting the broad reach of conscription amid ongoing hostilities with Russia.
The Ukrainian government has tightened mobilisation measures as the conflict continues, lowering the draft age and restricting most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.
This has led to increased efforts to recruit eligible men in public spaces, often resulting in tension and confrontation.
Faced with mounting losses, Ukraine’s recruitment campaigns have faced challenges, with complaints from the front lines about inadequate rotations and reliance on inexperienced recruits.
Burbas noted that the conscription of athletes highlights the intense reality of Ukraine’s current situation, as many individuals, regardless of profession, face the possibility of being summoned for military duty.
