The Embassy of Ukraine in Tashkent called on citizens of Uzbekistan not to take part in hostilities and not to visit its temporarily occupied territories.

The report says that Russia, in connection with significant losses of army personnel, is attempting to attract foreign citizens to participate in the war.

“According to the data of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, facts of the presence of Uzbek citizens in the units of the Russian occupation forces located in the temporarily occupied city of Horlivka, Donetsk region, have been revealed,” the embassy said.

It is noted that the Uzbeks illegally crossed the state border of Ukraine and arrived in the temporarily occupied territory to carry out construction work. After arriving in the city of Mariupol, their passports were confiscated and these citizens were mobilized as volunteers.

The Embassy draws the attention of the citizens of Uzbekistan to the consequences of participating in hostilities.

“Foreign citizens participating in armed aggression against us will be prosecuted and held accountable in accordance with the norms of the national legislation of Ukraine and international law,” the message says.

The Embassy also warned about the consequences of illegally crossing the Ukrainian state border.

“Foreign citizens who illegally arrived in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including to participate in the construction or other work, will be considered as accomplices of the occupiers and held accountable in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine,” the diplomatic mission noted.