[Skybird]

Russia is not the only one havign problems with morale and conscription.


[Frankfurter Rundschau] After 18 months of war in Ukraine, the willingness of Ukrainian men to go to war is apparently declining, but there are also problems with morale on the Russian side. As a result, the country is struggling to meet its need for soldiers. According to the BBC, Ukraine constantly has to replace tens of thousands of soldiers killed or injured in the war against Russia. Many conscripts try to avoid being drafted by leaving the country or finding other ways to avoid going to the front.

The martial law that has prevailed since the war of aggression began in Ukraine has taken away the men's choice: They have to fight, but many do not want to. This mainly affects men under 60, who are therefore unable to leave Ukraine. According to the BBC, there are only exceptions in the case of serious health problems, single parents and if they are caring for a person in need of protection. Then one can officially avoid conscription. But many try to find unofficial ways.

To avoid being called up, many men leave the country. Those who stay help each other in mass group chats, BBC reports. On Telegram threads, tips are said to be shared about where there are checks or patrols. These chats are said to exist across the country, with more than 100,000 members each, according to the BBC.


This is because trust in the authorities doing the recruiting is also said to have been lost. According to the BBC, there are allegations that would range from corruption to intimidating methods of the officials.