Former defense chief, General Harald Sunde: – Send Ukrainian men home

– When the nation calls for military service, the individual is faced with a dilemma. Then they should choose to fight for the collective because it is above the individual’s values. These are values ​​that are bigger than yourself, says the general in an interview with Nettavisen.

Read all about the war in Ukraine here!

On April 16, the Ukrainian president signed a new law on mobilization. Among other things, it means that soldiers with a long period of service can no longer be discharged.

The law also requires all men to ensure that they have given up-to-date information to the authorities. At the same time, the penalties for those who try to evade mobilization are increased.

It is expected that Ukraine will mobilize several hundred thousand new soldiers for the war.

Denied Ukrainian passport

On April 24, Zelensky announced that all Ukrainian men aged 18-60 will no longer be able to obtain Ukrainian passports abroad, writes Ukrainska Pravda. Ukrainian authorities have banned the issuance of Ukrainian passports, either internally or for international travel, to all Ukrainian men of fighting age.

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Former chief of defense Harald Sunde believes it is high time that Ukrainian men, who have left Ukraine and are staying in Norway or other western countries, pack their bags and go home to join the resistance struggle against the Russian occupying power.

Watch video: Set fire to Russian fuel depots

– This is what Gunnar Sønsteby and Max Manus saw

– I agree with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg when he says that Ukraine’s fight is our fight. When we build up in unison during Ukraine’s struggle, then in my opinion it is an ethical and moral responsibility, also for the Ukrainian people, to fight for their freedom. This is what Gunnar Sønsteby and Max Manus saw, that a free Norway was much more important than the person’s own freedom, emphasizes Sunde.

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After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, a state of emergency was introduced which prohibits men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. The exceptions are poor health, single parents, a disability, fathers with three or more minor children, and men with a permanent residence permit abroad.

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– I think many Poles will be furious

Poland is now warning that it is prepared to assist Ukraine in bringing back men of fighting age.

– I think many Poles are enraged when they see young Ukrainian men in hotels and cafes, and they hear how much we have to do to help Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told Reuters.

About 4.3 million Ukrainians live in EU countries in January 2024, of which approximately 860,000 are adult men, the Eurostat database estimates. Poland has granted temporary protection status to 950,000 Ukrainians, the second largest number after Germany.

According to UDI, almost 16,000 Ukrainian men of fighting age have received collective protection in Norway.

40 new Ukrainian applications in Norway

On Wednesday, 40 new applications for collective protection were registered from people displaced by the war in Ukraine. In total, UDI has received 309 applications for collective protection in the last week.

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On Monday and Tuesday, 32 and 40 new applications were registered respectively.

Since the beginning of 2022, 75,814 people have applied for collective protection in Norway. This figure includes people with citizenship other than Ukrainian, and it does not include ordinary asylum seekers. 74,259 of the applications have been approved.

Almost all those granted collective protection are Ukrainian citizens. By the turn of the year, around 200 people with other citizenships had received protection. These are mostly refugees from other countries who had asylum in Ukraine before 2022.