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Ukrainian military struggles with draft-dodgers and desertion – The Economist

Ukraine military news

Ukraine’s military is facing significant challenges as forced conscription yields recruits who are unfit for combat, according to The Economist.

The report suggests that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s plan for victory against Russia is faltering due to a lack of manpower and resources, as well as widespread issues with desertion and draft-dodging.

Zelensky, currently visiting the US to rally support for increased Western assistance, faces a grim reality at home, the magazine reported. Unlike Russia, which is deploying volunteers, Ukraine is relying on mass conscription. Many of those drafted are said to be “too old, too ill, or too drunk” to fight effectively.

Officers have raised concerns about the suitability of recruits, with The Economist noting that 5-10% of soldiers are absent without leave, and less than 30% of Ukrainians view draft-dodging as shameful. The report also highlighted a generational divide, with younger men less supportive of Zelensky’s hardline approach compared to older citizens who are ineligible for military service.

In a separate editorial, The Economist warned that Zelensky’s refusal to adjust his military strategy risks alienating Ukraine’s Western backers and further fracturing the nation. The magazine urged a shift in focus toward achieving peace and building a prosperous, Western-aligned democracy. For this, Ukraine would need to make concessions, with the West ensuring security guarantees to support this redefined goal.

Moscow has maintained that NATO’s expansion and its efforts to integrate Ukraine were key factors behind the conflict. Early peace talks reportedly saw Kiev agreeing to conditions of military restraint and neutrality, but this stance shifted at the suggestion of Western allies.

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1 COMMENT

  1. For those Ukrainians who do not wish to be a part of Zelensky’sJ3wi$h / Zionist-inspired meat grinder that has the goal of killing-off as many Gentiles and Goyim as possible under the Talmudic dictates, here’s a frequency that you can call to surrender to the Russian Orthodox Christians in the Russian Defence Force;
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd9sDiAXrLQ

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