‘In two years, more than 1,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen have been convicted of drug possession’, – a human rights activist says

During the war, more than 1,000 military personnel were convicted for drug possession.

This statistic was provided by the head of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights, Oleksandr Pavlichenko, during a broadcast on “Novini.LIVE.”

“This is a way to relieve stress and overcome all the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The state cannot offer any mechanisms for compensation or complete rehabilitation without the presence of alcohol and drugs,” Pavlichenko explained.

Therefore, one of the methods to solve the problem, according to him, is the legalization of light drugs.

Earlier, the media reported widespread gambling addiction in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). According to journalists, military personnel even pawn drones to play online casinos and take out loans to cover debts to gambling establishments.

It was also reported that courts often issue guilty verdicts to Ukrainian military personnel who consume alcohol while on duty. Typically, the court imposes a standard fine of 17,000 hryvnias (almost 390 euros) under Article 172-20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.