Two years on, the Ukrainian war is nearing a stalemate — and that’s causing problems. When the conflict first began, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians volunteered to fight. But with no end in sight, recruits are growing weary and their enthusiasm waning.
In response, Ukraine has lowered the conscription age, deployed patrols to round up fighting-age men and strengthened penalties for draft evasion. But for some young people, that’s not enough to convince them to enlist. Luke Harding We explain why there is such a recruitment crisis in Ukraine and what is being done to improve the situation.
Miroslav is one of those young people who felt pressured into joining the army and felt despair. He explains why he didn’t want to fight and how he planned to leave Ukraine. Michael Safi What it’s like to be torn between a sense of self-preservation and a sense of duty.
Photo: Sergey Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
