Just a stone’s throw away from advancing Russian troops, Volodymyr is adamant about staying in his eastern Ukrainian town. Despite the daily Russian attacks that have taken the lives of some of his neighbors and destroyed buildings nearby, the 34-year-old refuses to leave because he fears being forcibly conscripted.
“I don’t want to be sent home with a gun in my hand,” he told Al Jazeera as the fighting continued just 10km away. He has seen too many of his friends killed, wounded, or incapacitated since the conflict began in 2014.
Casualties have only increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Russian military leaders seem willing to sacrifice tens of thousands of their own soldiers for each Ukrainian town they capture, particularly in the Donetsk region where Volodymyr resides.
However, Volodymyr accuses Ukrainian military commanders of adopting a similar mindset. He claims that they are more concerned with pleasing their superiors than with the well-being of the soldiers under their command.
The situation has led to a heightened fear of patrols searching for conscripts throughout Ukraine. With approximately 1.3 million Ukrainians serving in the military and an estimated 80,000 soldiers having died since 2022, the pressure on potential recruits is immense.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government has implemented strict measures, including the use of patrols that comb public areas to check the conscription status of men of eligible age. The process has been met with resistance and reports of violence towards potential conscripts have emerged.
Desertions are on the rise, with over 100,000 servicemen having deserted since 2022. Draft dodging has also bred corruption, with bribes being paid to avoid conscription.
Despite efforts to increase enlistment, including calls for Ukrainian refugees and diaspora members to join the military, recruitment numbers remain low. Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko believes that a more effective awareness campaign is needed to convince potential recruits of the importance of defending Ukraine.
The challenges facing Ukraine’s military recruitment efforts are significant, and the government will need to address issues of corruption and violence to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
