Ukrainians protesting against mobilization block trucks

Ukrainians protesting against mobilization block trucks

BELGRADE -- A number of Serbian trucks and drivers are blocked on the Ukraine-Belarus border by a group of Ukrainian women, the Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti writes.

The women are protesting against the mobilization of men ordered by the authorities in Kiev, and reportedly particularly target Serbian trucks because of friendly ties between Serbia and Russia.

Eight Serbian trucks carrying fruit and vegetables to Russia have been held near the town of Ratne for two days. The drivers say the Ukrainian women referred to them as "Russian allies" and would not let them pass.

The drivers added that they are running out of water, food, and fuel for the refrigerators, and fear they may lose their cargo - worth some EUR 20,000 per truck.

Serbian Ambassador in Ukraine Rade Bulatović told the newspaper that the women protesting against the mobilization "are not blocking only Serbs," and added that the embassy received calls from the drivers held at the border, but that "realistically, this problem can only be solved by local Ukrainian authorities."

"It is not the embassy's job to deal with this," said the ambassador, and added: "This is a protest of women opposed to recruitment of men for war. They have been blocking the road toward Hungary every other day. This has nothing to do with our country."

But one of the Serbian drivers, Ivan Rašković, told the daily that the protesters, mostly women, were blocking the road "with the explanation that we cannot drive on simply because we are Serbs."

"They said they were punishing us for being Russian allies, and that their husbands, sons and fathers have been mobilized for 45 days now...