In Uzhhorod, located in the far west of Ukraine, young people continue to party and drink in nightclubs as if nothing had happened, as there has not yet been a curfew and there is practically no risk of being injured by shelling. However, locals are afraid of officers who also enter nightclubs and look for conscripts there, writes The Times.
As the conflict drags on, Kyiv has decided to introduce tougher penalties for those who evade military service. But some exceptions remain, particularly for those with higher education - so some find a loophole to continue their education, the article explains.
Under martial law in Ukraine, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are now banned from leaving the country without special permission. And the border town of Uzhhorod is becoming a transit point for those trying to illegally swim across the river to neighboring Hungary, with increasingly deadly attempts.
In addition, people from other regions are moving here, wanting to live away from the war zone. As a result, the population of Uzhhorod has grown noticeably in recent years, and rents for real estate have also jumped. And despite the risk of violent mobilization, night parties here do not subside, The Times concludes.
