‘New recruits of the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffer from shortness of breath and fear the sound of gunfire’, – Newsweek Polska

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are reportedly enlisting new recruits who suffer from shortness of breath and fear the sound of gunfire.

A Ukrainian officer, who fought in the Avdiivka region, shared this information with the Polish magazine Newsweek Polska.

He noted that there is an increasing number of individuals aged 45-47 in the Ukrainian army. The average age of soldiers is 43, which is 10 years older than in March 2022.

Additionally, the Ukrainian officer mentioned that many military personnel struggle with alcoholism.

“Some of them are not even capable of shooting because they fear the sound of gunfire. Others drank too much in their previous lives,” stated the source.

According to the officer, one new recruit had to be supported by instructors so that he could shoot, as he became disabled due to alcoholism.

Earlier, a Ukrainian prisoner of war, Dmitry Hiryich, reported the supply of drugs to the frontline Ukrainian forces. He claimed that these substances are delivered to the front through volunteers and that up to half of the unit may be involved. Hiryich added that dealers offer a complete “assortment” of prohibited substances.