Russia plans to deploy all mobilized citizens of Ukraine from occupied Crimea to combat operations
Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, disclosed in a commentary provided to news agency Interfax-Ukraine that starting April 1, 2026, Russia plans to deploy all individuals mobilized from temporarily occupied Crimea into active combat. Specifically, there are plans to replace wounded and “unfit” personnel within the 810th Marine Brigade, stationed in Sevastopol, with these newly mobilized residents.
Russian forces launch a “Molniya” UAV. Photo credit: Russian Ministry of Defense.“Work is currently underway to completely replace the personnel of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade — the Sevastopol-based brigade of the Black Sea Fleet. Some of its units are deployed in the Kursk direction, while others are part of the ‘Crimea’ operational-tactical group,” the spokesperson explained.
According to Voloshyn, the brigade plans to replace those who have completed medical treatment for injuries but remain unfit for combat duties with newly mobilized residents from the occupied peninsula. Furthermore, Ukrainian military intelligence suggests that the Russian command intends to expand the 810th Brigade into a full Marine Division.
“The Russians promised that Crimeans would not have to fight, but now participation in hostilities is mandatory for them,” Voloshyn stated.
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Previously, the ZMINA reported that from February 2022 to July 2025, Russia forcibly mobilized 46,327 Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories, including 40,640 from Crimea alone.
In November 2025, ZMINA reported that the most active illegitimate judges who ensure “successful” conscription campaigns for the Russian armed forces in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
To provide background, The practices of forced conscription and mobilisation of the Crimean population are in direct violation of international humanitarian law (IHL), specifically Article 8 (2)(a)(v) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which states that a prisoner of war or other protected person cannot be compelled to serve in the forces of a hostile power.
As well, forcing these illegally mobilised Crimeans to fight against their own country violates Article 8 (2)(b)(xv) of the Rome Statute: Compelling the nationals of the hostile party to take part in the operations of war directed against their own country.
Despite the Russian Federation’s withdrawal of its signature from the Rome Statute in November 2016, the conditions of jurisdiction outlined by the Rome Statute cover Ukraine and military actions committed against the Ukrainian population. This is due to the Ukrainian government’s declaration accepting ICC jurisdiction in February 2014 under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, which was backdated to November 2013. Additionally, Ukraine is a full member of the ICC beginning on January 1, 2025, which under Article 12(3), further solidifies ICC jurisdiction over cases related to Russia’s conduct related to the war and occupation of Ukrainian territory.
The Rome Statute is not the only legally binding set of laws that holds jurisdiction over the Russian Federation’s conduct as it relates to the forcible recruitment of the occupied population of Crimea. The Hague Regulations Article 23(h), as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention Articles 147 and 51, all contain specific language prohibiting the enforced compulsion of protected persons (civilians) into military service with a hostile power to fight against their own country.
