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Ukraine cracks down on draft-dodging as it struggles to find troops
Washington Post ^ | December 8, 2023 | Fredrick Kunkle and Serhii Korolchuk

Posted on 12/08/2023 3:52:44 AM PST by Mount Athos

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, men ages 18 to 60 were forbidden from leaving the country.

Some of those seeking to escape hire guides to lead them through the mountains. Others make the risky trip alone. At least 25 men have drowned while crossing the Tysa River separating Ukraine from Moldova and Romania.

Many rely on fake documents to slip out of the country.

Men have squeezed themselves into secret compartments in vehicles, posed as clergy members and dressed as women to sneak past border checkpoints, said Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman at the headquarters of the State Border Guard Service.

Interviews with draft-age Ukrainians suggest that many are less than eager to fight for a military and national government that is viewed as rife with corruption and incompetence.

The BBC, citing an analysis based on Eurostat data, said that 650,000 conscription-age men have left Ukraine.

In August, Zelensky fired all heads of regional recruitment commissions amid allegations of widespread corruption.

One Ukrainian draft-age man, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he has evaded service, said the going rate for bribing a guard on the Moldovan border is $300.

The Lviv region is one of the nation’s busiest corridors for people trying to leave the country illegally, owing to its long border with Poland.

A Lviv freight company employee helped more than 50 men flee Ukraine by registering them as truckers.

Guides can be found on social media sites such as Telegram, where the fee starts at $1,200 and up. Besides knowing the terrain, some guides use night-vision goggles and spend time observing Border Guard patrols to learn their habits and vulnerabilities.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Ukraine
KEYWORDS: conscription; ukraine
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The American media and politicians pretend that Ukrainian men are so very eager to die, but the reality could not be more different.

With educational deferment rules changing right now, families are desperately trying to save their sons.

The people eager who were eager to fight and sign up at the beginning of the conflict are mostly dead or missing limbs now.

The reality is that large numbers are grabbed and pushed into vans to be taken to the front with inadequate training and equipment. Even so, recruitment rates now less than 20% of target goals and below replacement levels.

Ukraine is a repressive terror state. But American politicians and pundits claim to be so "pro ukrainian" while pursuing a policy that will result in hundreds of thousands more amputees and dead among them. Billions and billions of dollars flushed as well.

1 posted on 12/08/2023 3:52:44 AM PST by Mount Athos
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To: Mount Athos

Not to worry.

FJB promised to send our boys over there to die.


2 posted on 12/08/2023 4:02:58 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: Mount Athos

“Following Russia’s full-scale invasion...”

LOL.


3 posted on 12/08/2023 4:04:17 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone)
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To: Mount Athos
--- "Ukraine is a repressive terror state. But American politicians and pundits claim to be so "pro ukrainian" while pursuing a policy that will result in hundreds of thousands more amputees and dead among them. Billions and billions of dollars flushed as well."

Other earlier coverage of the topic to further complete the picture.

'I was afraid of it': the Ukrainians dodging conscription and fleeing the country EuroNews with Agence France Presse, 1 September 2023

Swimming rivers and faking illness to escape Ukraine's draft BBC, 16 November 2023

200k Ukrainian men have dodged draft by migrating to Germany Brussels Signal, 11 September 2023

Ukraine draft dodgers dream up extreme ways to avoid the front The Times UK, 23 September 2023

One of the horrid features of the so-called "proxy war" is that politicians sit far from battle and urge those proxies to be maimed and killed for goals decided far away from what once the press called "the killing fields," and today that reality is wallpapered over, as has massive corruption been generally ignored.

One recalls the callous remark by today's Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs , Victoria Nuland, who was caught on mike saying "F**k Europe."

4 posted on 12/08/2023 4:06:12 AM PST by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Mount Athos

“Interviews with draft-age Ukrainians suggest that many are less than eager to fight for a military and national government that is viewed as rife with corruption and incompetence.”

Whoops, this slipped through, should have said: “...is FALSELY viewed as rife with corruption and incompetence.”


5 posted on 12/08/2023 4:06:35 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Not to worry. FJB promised to send our boys over there to die.”

Makes sense to me. If Ukrainians don’t want to get blasted to bits for the Neocons, then what choice do the Neocons have other than to send Americans who have no say in the matter?

I noticed that, other than claiming that they somehow got hold of the minutes of the CLASSIFIED meeting where Austin told the Senators that American troops were next (and that the minutes didn’t reflect such), the Neocon Cheerleaders have been VERY QUIET on this topic.


6 posted on 12/08/2023 4:11:42 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone)
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To: Mount Athos

btt


7 posted on 12/08/2023 4:13:11 AM PST by KSCITYBOY (The media is corrupt)
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To: Mount Athos

Two months ago, the Germans unofficially said that 200,000 Ukrainian men are believed to be in Germany, but it was a simple best guess estimate. A fair number aren’t registered and work on the ‘black’.

As for them ever returning to Ukraine? I would offer the humble guess ‘no’.

Same story following Russian men who sought asylum in Germany. Probably in the 3,500 range so far, with most seeking legal status. I don’t think they will return to Russia.


8 posted on 12/08/2023 4:14:09 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
FJB promised to send our boys over there to die.

Only if they're straight white boys.

9 posted on 12/08/2023 4:14:27 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Soros on assisting the Nazis with the Holocaust: "That's when my character was made.")
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To: Mount Athos

Had mini dicktator z allowed the legal elections to take place maybe ukes might be more inclined to fight for their nation.
Just like with biden/obunghole here, no one wants to die for these POS!
And here the dem created lgbtqxyz freaks aint filling up the ranks for their fearless leaders.


10 posted on 12/08/2023 4:15:05 AM PST by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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To: Mount Athos; MtnClimber

DISSECTING THE WASHINGTON POST’S “ANALYSIS” OF UKRAINE’S FAILED COUNTER OFFENSIVE — PART 1

7 December 2023 by Larry Johnson

https://sonar21.com/dissecting-the-washington-posts-analysis-of-ukraines-failed-counter-offensive-part-1/

PART 2

https://sonar21.com/dissecting-the-washington-posts-analysis-of-ukraines-failed-counter-offensive-part-2/

Johnson: This two part series in the Washington Post is a must read because of what it tells the reader about the abysmal performance of the White House and the Department of Defense. I found it genuinely shocking. I knew that Biden, Austin and Milley were bad. I just did not appreciate how bad. On a scale of 1 to 10, with a 10 marking the biggest fuck up in history, these guys rate an 11.

Part two, In Ukraine, a war of incremental gains as counteroffensive stalls, pushes the false narrative that what is happening on the ground in Ukraine is a “stalemate.” No. What is going on is a major ass kicking by Russia. Here is the definition of a stalemate in chess, which also applies to war:

A stalemate is a special type of draw in the game of chess that occurs when the chess player who has to move cannot make any legal moves to a safe square but is also not in check. Stalemate typically ends the game with a draw—a scenario in which there is no way for either player to win the game.

No way for Russia to win? Think again. By decimating Ukraine’s army that is precisely a path to victory.
[read it all at the 2 links]

Part 2 describes in detail how the U.S. designed plan of attack fell apart during the first week of the counter offensive.


11 posted on 12/08/2023 4:55:37 AM PST by Travis McGee (EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Mount Athos

Where’s Momma Marine when the truth comes out?


12 posted on 12/08/2023 5:06:27 AM PST by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
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To: Fresh Wind

Feminism exposed: “We demand all the rights and pay of men, but none of the responsibilities.”


13 posted on 12/08/2023 5:10:40 AM PST by Reeses
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To: Mount Athos

I hear the US border is accepting all comers.


14 posted on 12/08/2023 5:23:16 AM PST by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
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To: Travis McGee
I knew that Biden, Austin and Milley were bad. I just did not appreciate how bad. On a scale of 1 to 10, with a 10 marking the biggest f[---] up in history, these guys rate an 11.

Yes, no kidding.

15 posted on 12/08/2023 5:28:27 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: BobL
Interviews with draft-age Ukrainians suggest that many are less than eager to fight for a military and national government that is viewed as rife with corruption and incompetence

...

Same thing is happening here - many don't want to 'sign up' to fight for our corrupt WOKE military either.

16 posted on 12/08/2023 5:33:34 AM PST by GOPJ
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To: Mount Athos
Ukraine cracks down on draft-dodging as it struggles to find cannon fodder

No Problem, Ukes can come to the US Illegally where they can engage in a successful life of crime, with US Government help, targeting Legacy Americans.

17 posted on 12/08/2023 5:37:15 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: McGruff; Mount Athos
I hear the US border is accepting all comers.

More accurately: All Illegal Comers.

18 posted on 12/08/2023 5:40:07 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Mount Athos

“The reality is that large numbers are grabbed and pushed into vans to be taken to the front with inadequate training and equipment.”

Hence the value of a well-regulated (= trained & practiced) militia (= the People, of age and capacity to carry a gun).


19 posted on 12/08/2023 5:50:16 AM PST by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“ We are not about to send American boys 4 or 5 thousand miles away from home to do what Ukrainian boys ought to be doing for themselves. “

Lyndon B Johnson.


20 posted on 12/08/2023 7:49:38 AM PST by Redcitizen
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