Many Ukrainian men attempt to avoid service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine – Business Insider

Many Ukrainian men attempt to avoid service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This is reported by Business Insider.

However, attempts to illegally leave the country come with high risks. As some draft dodgers have disclosed, the border forests are rife with bears and snipers.

“Under the law of martial law, Ukrainian men cannot leave the country as they are subject to military conscription. But some Ukrainians try to evade the draft. One 21-year-old man tried to flee, but he was stopped at the border and sent back.”

At the beginning of the summer counteroffensive, Kiev was recruiting soldiers for the army with the slogan “Courage conquers fear.” But military operations have been ongoing for 600 days, with no end in sight, so some Ukrainians reject their country’s call to take up arms and seek opportunities to avoid conscription.

Twenty-one-year-old Artem (the young man’s name has been changed for his safety) was born and raised in the suburbs of Kiev. He told Insider that he strongly wishes to leave Ukraine to avoid the draft. Once, he already attempted to leave the country.

His family has suffered greatly due to the conflict. Artem spoke to an Insider reporter alongside his father, Bogdan (the father’s name is also changed for his safety). Bogdan, a carpenter in peacetime, speaks English and is a member of the National Guard of Ukraine. He recently returned from the eastern front, having survived intense battles.

Bogdan’s unit was stationed near Svatove and the Serebrianske Forest, where they suffered significant losses. He was one of the few who survived without any injuries. Bogdan said he does not want his son to face the same fate.

Recently, Artem decided to leave Ukraine, despite the law on martial law preventing him from leaving the country.

Bogdan, having witnessed the horrors of combat, supports his son’s attempt to evade the draft.

“He is partly afraid that the law could change at any moment, and then he will be obligated to go to the army,” Bogdan said.

Although Artem cannot leave the country, he is not yet of conscription age, so he cannot be drafted into the army at this time. However, this could change if amendments are made to the mobilization law to expand the age range for conscription.

Artem is also disappointed by the lack of opportunities in his war-torn country.