https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/world/europe/ukraine-military-recruitment.html

    • zifnab25 [he/him, any]
      ·
      6 months ago

      While fragging is funny and cool as hell, let's not pretend that military administrators lack methods for compelling compliance among conscripts on the battlefield. One of the primary purposes of basic training is to instill military discipline by breaking people down psychologically and building them back up as conditioned loyalists.

      I would not bank on soldiers breaking ranks, particularly when they're moved up to the front lines and caught between the rock and the hard place.

      • Evilsandwichman [none/use name]
        ·
        6 months ago

        One of the primary purposes of basic training is to instill military discipline by breaking people down psychologically and building them back up as conditioned loyalists.

        Yeah but these guys aren't being conditioned, they're being given guns and sent straight into the meat grinder. I'd say they're better off shooting their CO and defecting to Russia (forever) but Ukraine also has snipers for just this occurrence.

    • zed_proclaimer [he/him]
      ·
      6 months ago

      I would be looking for the first opportunity to run over to Russian lines and surrender

        • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
          ·
          6 months ago

          Allegedly there is a Russian radio frequency that Ukrainians can broadcast on to receive instructions on how to cross lines and surrender. Idk if it's true or not though, plenty of lies on both sides of this war.

  • edge [he/him]
    ·
    6 months ago

    They've been doing this from the very beginning of the war. Interesting to see NYT acknowledge it though.

    • CrimsonSage [any]
      ·
      6 months ago

      Yeah I remember reading about them detaining trans women for "draft evasion."

        • CrimsonSage [any]
          ·
          6 months ago

          Well yeah, but they were specifically sending them to the front because "All men need to do their duty."

          • Alaskaball [comrade/them]
            ·
            6 months ago

            Thats what I was saying yep. Expressly targeting them then sending them to the most dangerous places under the assumption they'll die because of Russian armaments

    • zed_proclaimer [he/him]
      ·
      6 months ago

      NYT has been coming clean on a lot of things related to Ukraine lately. Guess they're ready to drop Ukraine and move onto Israel ASAP

      • Great_Leader_Is_Dead
        ·
        6 months ago

        They got a memo from the CIA that it was time to pull the plug

    • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
      ·
      6 months ago

      Yeah, sealed is the objectively superior limited format.

      I'll see myself out.

    • GarbageShoot [he/him]
      ·
      6 months ago

      I think functionally the problem is the cause it is employed for. There's no version of the Ukrainian military fighting for control of Donbas that isn't barbaric.

  • theposterformerlyknownasgood
    ·
    6 months ago

    [British voice] You're not supposed to press gang people for the army, you're supposed to do it for the navy. Amateurs