Downvoters, it’s not too late to do your part https://ildu.com.ua/

BBC is on a roll today

War and state should be a volunteer affair only.

May those wretched things dry on the vine

This is the best summary I could come up with:

What if they had been caught by one of the conscription squads, which now roam Ukraine’s streets?With many of its soldiers dead, injured or exhausted, the Ukrainian government has stepped up its efforts to mobilise more men.

“I feel like I am in a prison,” Maksym said.On a Tuesday morning, a dozen conscription officers descended on Odesa’s main train station, led by a seasoned veteran sailor, Anatoliy, and his younger, more muscular counterpart Oleksiy.

Under the call sign Hora, Vlad fought in some of the fiercest battles along the eastern front line in the Donbas before being struck in the head, chest, and legs by artillery shrapnel.He was unable to mask his contempt for those who are hiding.

This latest conscription drive has opened up uncomfortable divisions in society, not only between those serving and those avoiding the draft, but also between female friends, some of whom have partners on the front line, and others who are hiding their boyfriends at home.

“I’m not a military man, I’ve never held a weapon, I don’t think I can be useful on the front line,” he said.He then reeled off the same list of reasons given by every draft dodger we spoke to – a family to support, some minor medical ailment, and a defiant declaration he was sending humanitarian aid to soldiers.

“It could save their lives”.Mr Sintsov, a patriotic volunteer with revolutionary spirit, oversees the mandatory 34-day training programme all conscripts must complete before being despatched to their military units.

The original article contains 1,340 words, the summary contains 250 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!