RT reported that soldier Maksim Yukhnevich of the 93rd Kholodny Yar Mechanized Brigade said that most soldiers are concerned about the possibility of lowering the conscription age in Ukraine.
However, instead of worrying about young soldiers not having enough strength to cope with the harsh conditions of the battlefield, Yukhnevich and his teammates believed that young soldiers did not have enough motivation to fight.
Yukhnevich said that many young men who had volunteered to join the army quickly lost their morale and there were also many cases of desertion, mostly among those aged 18-19. When questioned about the reason for desertion, most of the answers were fear of facing danger.
Yukhnevich continued to share that about 90% of the people he had talked to about this issue were against lowering the age of military service.
The Ukrainian government recently launched an amnesty program and eased penalties for soldiers who deserted if they agreed to return to the battlefield to cope with troop shortages.
Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has changed many policies to replenish its forces, including lowering the conscription age from 28 to 27, simplifying the recruitment process and giving more power to officers.
However, the US and the West have recently put pressure on Kiev to continue lowering the military age to 18.
According to RT, Ukraine’s military mobilization efforts are becoming increasingly extreme. Many videos circulating on social media show military recruiters chasing and fighting draft dodgers on the streets and abusing them.
