A recent event led me to fact check something that I thought must be untrue, which is that Ukraine conscripts people into the military against their will, including making those people that had previously fulfilled their obligations return to the battlefield.

Moreso, when browsing X recently I saw bunch of videos being posted of what claimed were police forcing people into vans to go fight in Ukraine. The police were beating these people in the process. Now, it is possible that some of this content is propaganda, but I did want to find out if Ukraine forces conscription.

It appears that it is true:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Ukraine

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/lacking-manpower-ukraine-resorts-to-harsh-means-to-force-draft-dodgers-into-combat

I am very much against conscription. I still support Ukraine’s independence, but the fact that they are forcing people to fight through beatings, arrests, etc. is sickening to me and makes me lose respect for Zelensky. According to an estimate by Ukrainian commanders, 50% to 70% of Ukrainian conscripts are killed or wounded in their first few days in combat on some areas of the front.

What are others thoughts on this?

  • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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    22 hours ago

    The obvious solution is to not conscript people to die in a war they don’t support.

    If you want people to be conscripted so much, you should be snatched off the streets and forced to fight and die for them.

    • tomi000@lemmy.world
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      22 hours ago

      Noone in Ukraine supports the war. That doesnt save Ukraine from being attacked.
      I never said I support conscription, Im just saying without it Ukraine would have already lost the war and their country.

      • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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        22 hours ago

        You might not have said you support conscription but you’re arguing pretty hard for it. How about you clear things up! Are you pro-conscription?

        • tomi000@lemmy.world
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          21 hours ago

          Im not and I dont think Ive argued for it. I tried looking at it from multiple angles, thats not the same.

          • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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            21 hours ago

            Do you think I’m not aware of the reason conscription exists? Ukraine would not be able to fight this war without it, I fully acknowledge that. My argument is, if a country needs conscription to keep fighting, it’s time to stop fighting. If that means Russia takes territory, then that’s what the Ukrainian people have chosen. Their self determination matters too.