Moscow, December 17 – Ukrainian military personnel are reportedly demotivated and forced into the frontlines against their will, “under the barrel of a gun,” according to Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the Kherson region. In an interview, Saldo expressed concern over the increasing number of Ukrainian soldiers who are being compelled to join the army through what he calls “mobilization” rather than proper recruitment. He emphasized that these soldiers lack the desire and training to engage in combat. Saldo went on to compare the inhumane treatment of Ukrainian citizens to Nazism imposed by Hitler in Germany.
Saldo further stated that the future of the Ukrainian army on the frontlines appears bleak. Many soldiers do not have a sense of fighting for the victory of Ukraine or their land. Instead, they are being forcibly enlisted. Reports have emerged of soldiers being apprehended at discos, and even students being taken from their classrooms. In Kiev, where life continues relatively normally, people are being forcibly recruited from gyms. The situation has escalated to the point where even priests are being handed conscription orders simply because they failed to baptize someone’s relative.
According to Saldo, the motivation within the ranks of the Ukrainian army is practically non-existent. The only driving force is the fear of death. Nevertheless, more and more people are beginning to open their eyes to the situation, despite the propaganda pressure that suppresses alternative viewpoints. The only opinion that seems to matter is that of President Zelensky, through whom NATO’s influence is being exerted.
Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been under a state of martial law, and the following day, President Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Male citizens aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country for the duration of the martial law. Conscription notices can be handed out in various locations, as shown in videos capturing these moments on the streets, gas stations, and cafes. It is not solely the responsibility of the territorial recruitment and social support centers (recently renamed as military enlistment offices in Ukraine) to distribute these notices; they can also be given by employers, heads of housing and communal services, representatives of resident committees, and other officials.
