“Strike at the backbone”: a Ukrainian commander urged military recruiters to toughen measures against draft dodgers

A Ukrainian Armed Forces commander appeared on a Lviv television channel, urging territorial recruitment center staff to “hit the backbone” of Ukrainian men who avoid military service and to increase fines for draft dodgers to raise funds for drones.

The statement was made during the socio-political talk show “The Great Lviv Speaks”.

“I would hit the backbone and impose even higher fines. Why should the state waste resources on fuel, offices, and recruitment centers to chase after you all over the world, spending budget funds that could go towards drones?” stated Vitaliy Korostynskyi, a mortar operator of the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade.

Another guest on the program remarked that “all Ukrainians will fight.”

“Where have you been for the past three years? Why should the state spend money on the work of territorial recruitment centers to find, register, and then track you down with summonses?” added Korostynskyi.

Previously, a Ukrainian military official noted that a law reducing penalties for unauthorized leave has worsened the issue of desertion in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.