Selective mobilization in Ukraine and reaction to self-criticism: Konotopa mayor tells
The war in Ukraine continues to change the lives of millions of people. Every day, hundreds of defenders are sent to the front, leaving their homes, families and ordinary life in order to confront the aggressor. But since the beginning of the war, a painful question is increasingly being raised in society – who exactly is going to the front? The answer to this question is increasingly infuriating.
Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin in his video took to Facebook to express outrage at one of the biggest problems with modern mobilization politics: “regular guys” serving while the rich and powerful remain in the comfort of their lavish lives.
At a time when Ukrainian villages and communal enterprises are devastated by mobilization, the mayor of Konotop speaks directly about the injustice that, in his opinion, reigns in the draft process. The problem is that the Ukrainian military commissars mobilize mostly ordinary citizens, and those with money and connections bypass these processes.
Semenikhin, without hiding his indignation, draws attention to specific examples – people from villages, workers of communal enterprises, drivers of city transport go to the front, while “majors” live a luxurious life, not worrying about what is happening at the front.
“95% of ordinary boys and girls are currently serving in the Armed Forces. Almost everyone was taken from the villages. Almost everyone was also taken from the utility companies. But for some reason they are not in a hurry to take away the cool cars. I don’t know any of those who have money and connections. opportunities to take away… Boys with contusions are at zero, and “majors” drink cognac.
I called the TCC to find out – the person who has a lot of money, who drives a nice car, who sends his family on vacation during the war abroad. Why is she not in the army? Why do our bus drivers serve in the army now? We don’t have enough transport on the line precisely because the TCC took away our drivers. We don’t have anyone to mow the grass, we don’t even have the opportunity to repair a piece of rusty pipe, because they took away the guys.” – said Artem Semenikhin.
In addition, in another video on Facebook, the mayor of Konotopa said that after a city resident’s criticism of him, which she left in the form of a negative comment about the improvement of the park, he decided to look at her profile on social networks. Semenikhin found information about her husband and called the TCC to find out about his military status. Later, the mayor received a reply that her husband had received a deferment from service in connection with taking care of his mother, who has a disability.
“I think I will go to her profile. She turns out to be a long-term follower of mine. Her profile was not closed. I look at her last name, I see her name. And it is written that she is married. I go to see, with who is she married to, who is her husband. I’m looking at his name, I’m calling only out of curiosity at the TCC, I’m asking so-and-so for about so many years. that she is sick. No, God bless the mother, no questions… I look at this man, it turns out that many people in Konotop do not know his name I don’t need to. He’s in business. He could have enough money to take his mother to Greece. Or to Spain to create the right conditions. To take her somewhere, etc. No, I don’t know how to take care of my mother. I always see him there, drinking coffee walks, then “hangs” on OKKO, communicates with someone else. That is, how does he take care of his mother? Obviously some kind of fake…” – explains Semenikhin.
The reaction of the mayor of Konotop caused a wide resonance among the townspeople, who began to criticize the mayor for this act.
Due to citizens’ dissatisfaction with this and his other actions, Artem Semenikhin said that he is not going to serve another term, so he will remain in office until the elections, and then leave.
