Mobilization and Voluntary Abandonment of the Military Unit: an honest conversation of adults

My friend's son is terrified of the Territorial Center for Procurement and Social Support. So much so that he sits in a rented apartment and does not go outside. His friend, a girlfriend, rented the apartment for him. And the owners do not even guess that she is not the only one living there.

My friend voices me a set of clichés about "people not born for war", about martial law, not war, about the sons of people's deputies, about the May barbecue grill and the lies of the government, about the military postponement for circuses and football clubs, about false conclusions of the Military Medical Commission of Ukraine (MMCU) and further on the list. Some of her statements are absolutely true. That is why it is so difficult to have a discussion. Because in pure theory, the social contract presupposes the honesty of both parties. But only in theory.

My friend is two years younger than her son according to the passport. And he is actually older by dozens of years. Now he works illegally. Well, what does the word illegal mean? Simply without formalization of documents for work, with a salary that is simply handed out once a week.

He has golden and skillful hands. He is engaged in the production of useful military items in a small town in the central part of the country. Probably, there have never been more dedicated workers there. He understands the importance of every detail and is never in a hurry to go home. But he really has nowhere to rush.

He has a headache. Especially on those days when he can't sleep. Although when he manages to fall asleep, he is covered by a veil of horrors, after which he spends the whole day trying to cope with tremors and a heart that is pounding in his ears. In fact, it is long past time for him to see a psychiatrist. But he cannot afford it, although he understands that he cannot do without pills.

There are only a few people with whom he can speak frankly. But even this does not save. Only work saves. Monotonous, but extremely important. It is his continuous activity that prevents him from finally breaking down.

He went to fight in the war under a contract back when the war was called Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone (ATO). He was very young then. He had never seen anything but war in his life. Several contracts. Several injuries. The last contract expired a few weeks before the full-scale invasion began. He did not have time to unpack all his belongings from the suitcase, because on February 24 he was already at the Military Commissariat. One brigade, then another. Defense, attack, defense again. Again injury, contusion, contusion and contusion. After the last one, he started delirious. Hearing planes that aren't there, trying to fend off enemy attacks in the middle of the night at a permanent deployment point.

His unit was often under enemy fire, and every man in the military unit was extremely important. After another trip to the combat zone, he simply fainted and finally got to the hospital. He spent the whole week in peace and quiet under the drips. For the fighters who were in his direction, it was quite a long time. The majority returned to the formation within three days. Several times he submitted a report to the Military Medical Commission of Ukraine (MMCU), hoping to receive normal treatment. But the commander of the armed forces could not make a decision and took time.

He got to the Military Medical Commission of Ukraine (MMCU) when he once again lost touch with reality and his comrades began to put pressure on the commander, because the chances that he would kill soldiers from his own unit, confusing them with their enemies, were increasing every day. Well, what does the Military Medical Commission of Ukraine (MMCU) represent in the front-line zone, everyone who has encountered it knows. Fighters there are either fit for military service or dead. He was not dead. Therefore, the psychiatrist did not find any reason to send him for treatment. He did not go to other doctors' offices. But he did not return to the military unit.

He has been in the status of voluntary abandonment of the military unit for several months. This means that he broke the law. He cannot get a job or seek medical help. And this turns into a closed circle. In order to return to the army, he needs the help of a psychiatrist, and to get it, he needs to become legal. He has two options ahead of him – either to hide for the rest of his life, or to go to trial.

He does not even consider the first option. Because the only thing he wants all his adult life is to protect the country.

The second option does not give a chance to undergo treatment and return to the military unit. If information from competent people is to be believed, since February 24, 2022, there have been no cases of acquittals by courts against persons who committed such a criminal offense as voluntarily abandoning a military unit. The cases end either by sending the indictment to the court, or, if the person expressed a desire to return to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and defend the state, they are closed, and the person immediately returns to the performance of combat tasks.

Therefore, he does not yet see any way out of this difficult situation and undertakes to do the work as a last chance to be useful.

Unfortunately, this story is not unique. The real figures regarding the voluntary abandonment of the military unit are not announced anywhere. Commanders try to hide many cases, hoping to solve the problem on their own. According to the military, from 2022 to 2024 (as of the end of April), there were about 70,000 cases of voluntary abandonment of the military units. According to the investigation data, there are a little more than 50,000 cases, 6,000 recorded cases this year. And, unfortunately, these numbers will increase.

Every soldier or volunteer has a story that they don't share publicly. And these stories are not about those who were forced into the bus of the Territorial Center of Procurement and Social Support and who quickly ran away at the first opportunity. No, these are stories about dedicated, motivated, but extremely tired fighters. Fighters who have awards, numerous injuries and desperate military operations in the past. Fighters who gave their all. And even more. These are military men who cannot be replaced in the conditions of war.

Mobilization, to put it mildly, is not very active and even quite sluggish. The biggest fault for this state of affairs certainly lies with the state, which did not communicate, did not prescribe clear rules, and did not ensure the protection of military personnel. Most of those who go to fight in the army understand that nowadays it is a one-way ticket. Because the terms of demobilization have not been determined. But it is also impossible to determine them without replacing the military on the front line. And this situation, which cannot be resolved, is not much different from the one in which this fighter found himself.

But are we fighting for a specific surname that did not cope with the mobilization process? Well, okay, not for one. For several dozen surnames? The existence of the country is at stake. This statement is absolutely without exaggeration. And the existence of the country does not depend on the president, not on the Commander-in-Chief of the country, not on the Territorial Center for Procurement and Social Support, and not on the Military Medical Commission of Ukraine (MMCU). It depends on those who have to finally stand up and say: it's my turn. Thank you guys for taking the time to prepare. We have come to replace you. It's cool if we can get in line with you. But if you need time to rest, it will be fair. We will cope with all the difficulties in the same way as you coped with them.

And you know what? The absolute majority after a rest will return to the ranks of the army as free people, not slaves of circumstances.

And another important thing depends on the president, the Commander-in-Chief of the country and further down the list – to open your mouth and honestly say that we are on the verge of a disaster. That another May barbecue is an illusion that has nothing to do with reality. It is worth saying that we will have to make every effort so that the country does not turn into a complete city of Bakhmut. And that the state at this stage cannot guarantee the degree of freedom we would like. Do not blame it on the performers, causing storms of emotions. And conclude a new social contract. Which will be honest. No cards in the sleeves.

This should be a frank conversation of adults. With no desire to be liked or score political points. Because as long as we play hide and seek, there will be nowhere to hide. It concerns all of us.

Read this article in Ukrainian and russian.