In the queue of about 130 people, only 20 are male. Men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine unless they qualify for an exemption. Four of those waiting are young lads who look close to turning 18. To avoid the risk of mobilisation, they must leave before then. Of course, some men find ways to get out anyway, legally or illegally. On August 11th President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he was sacking the heads of the country’s regional military recruitment centres, where officials were alleged to be selling travel permits for up to $10,000. “Bribery during war is treason,” Mr Zelensky railed.

In the initial period after the invasion most men trying to get across were driven by fear, says Colonel Trachuk. Now she reckons half are looking for work. But those trying to escape military service must live at risk of being apprehended by recruitment officers and press-ganged. At the beginning of the invasion Ivan, a 42-year-old musician in Uzhhorod, contemplated enlisting, but changed his mind when he saw coffins arriving. Now, he says, he is in constant fear of being called up: “I feel like I am hanging in the air.”

  • TexMexBazooka
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    1 year ago

    Uhhhhh no if it comes to it America will draft it’s men without hesitation

    • AngrilyEatingMuffins@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      It’ll never come down to it is the point. An all volunteer army is so much more effective that America has, by far, the most powerful military but it’s not close to the largest. Very little, if anything, is actually gained by conscription if you have a functioning volunteer force of sufficient size. How is feeding, clothing, housing, training and equipping a ton of people who don’t want to be there logistically beneficial to a military? Short answer is that it’s not.