AWOL: Why are Ukrainian soldiers leaving their units and how to get them back? • FRANCE 24 English
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians rushed to military recruitment centres to defend their country. Almost three years of war later, the momentum has stalled. Our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports.
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They got tired of winning
😂😂😂
Most underrated coment 🤣
@@ilistis honestly
Loo😅
How is winning working out 😂
i guess they don't want to die.
Someone needs to think about the military industrial complex.
Who does?
then don't ask us to fight for Ukraine .....
@@olgabelarusProve it, Comrade.
Nobody wants to die for a war that is already lost
The prison doors open, and those of a coffin do not.
russians will open the prison doors all across Ukraine
You have to be very lucky to get a coffin because your grave could just be an unnamed treeline.
well the coffin doors are coming one day one way or another is something people often forget.
Even if our lives are extended by a thousand years it is very likely they are coming.
So enjoy your life and stop dying without gaining anything @@Victor-tl4dk
@@Victor-tl4dk What a stupid comment in this context
No one want to fight and die for Blackrock.....
very true
yep
"for Zelensky"
And yet they do in huge numbers
They don't want to die for USA hegemony.
their country already wiped out for usa hegemony
KGB agent comment !
you mean defending their country from invaders
@@DubaSangarayes, but some people are still alive and they want to continue being alive
Ivan bot.
The Ukrainians don’t want to be cannon fodder I would leave too.
Don't they know Lindsey Graham want them to fight till last Ukrainian?
They might be starting to understand.
@@mnemonija do they know that they are valued at 13+ trillions?
You think that all is for strong like Putin? All thing is like putin wants
@@taniakrivorot Please remind us, what Russia wants to begin with? Majority here in the west dont even know! They believe (as media tells them), that Purin wants territories. Buty situation in Urkaien is far more complicated, and has allot to do with Russia's security concern regarding NATO moving Eastward, and dragging Urkaine into its alliance and EU. this alone is a HUGE threat to Russia, and Putin knew that. That's why Russia acted preemptively, before that happened. They got their national security and national interests too, not just US and NATO.
@@taniakrivorotUkraine and NATO clearly loosing the war and the people of Ukraine and the world are fed up with the lies like "we're winning etc"
Soldiers are not slaves. True.
They are when their country sells itself
😂 ukranians are
They are in russia and north Korea
In Ukraine they are, unfortunately. Fighting an unwinnable war against very close cousin for the benefit of a western dream.
From experience, soldiers are slaves. They've always been slaves since the time of the Sumerians.
Majority of those recruited are the poor and they are forced to fight for a country that has ignored them in the peace time and they are asked to put their lives on the line. When this war is over, and if they survive they will be ignored just the same. Would you fight and sacrifice your life if you were in their shoes?
Well said
The rich kids get a pass.
How to get them back? What a title? You're talking like those fighting are plastics! We're talking about humans who are being killed while you sit in your armchair drinking tequila. What nonsense
whats the problem?
@yeetman4953 read the title of the video
They drink expensive wines
i hought the same
@@twenuaba russia is the problem here, only if they were a bit more diplomatic.
Fighting for Boris Johnson
a criminal
@@scottfay3553 Putin has ICC warrant
They’ve sent a comedian to do a leader’s job!
Is there something wrong with comedians?
Comedian and Ukraine soldiers doing an unbelievable task ... Just ask around 800,000 russian cripples and widows .
@@aburakadabura2 They are not fit to lead countries and make rational political decisions. In politics they are just stupid puppets.
@@eddastrohmayer251 What is more unsuitable for the leadership of a country than a former KGB ‘dictator Putin’ who sends every critic of his regime to jail?
@@aburakadabura2he turned the whole war into a joke
These patrol officers seem very fit for battle? What are they doing in the streets away from where they are needed?
They're trying to stay as far away from the front as they can.
@@neilreynolds3858I won't blame them, they could have their reasons
Son's of politicians probably.
They are "doing their work" proving being useful to the Vazelinski regime. Because if they dont catch anyone, they will be sent to battlegrounds themselves. Some even openly had admited it - It's either them or me."
They are the equivalence of coast guards, aka sons of the corrupt politicians.
This is so painful to watch. I hope Victoria Nuland, Boris Johnson and Jessica Berlin are watching and is forever haunted by the children who lost their fathers for Washington’s arrogant power.
They don't care, they are complete psychopaths. You could as well said the above to cold stones.
Such people are hating monsters and do not care.
They don't care. You could as well talk to cold stones.
Will Boris Johnson send his children to the frontline?
PLEASEEEE
I like this little show with draft officers politely asking a guy on the street to stop and letting him ignore them. Sure bro, we all saw the videos.
For real lol. I saw videos they forcefully kidnapped them , no matter how much the mother cried they already took the son to the van. In this video , they're being lenient lol
TV CHANNEL camera and JOURNALIST.
They even invented a new verb to describe what the recrutement officers are doing. BUSIFY
Even in Kiev recently, the last place they wanna do things like that
@@endel4385 I saw a video of a dude riding his bicycle in a park a van pulled up some military recruiters got out tried to corner him fortunately he managed to get away but i wonder if they know where he lives and visited him at his home
Imagine that ppl don't want to be cannon fodders for the establishment and NATO
Those traitors. How dare they not risk their lives for Clownsky and his friends in Blackrock? How dare they...
they said they would fight to the last man, i want a refund
kick Zelensky out of his position.
Remember he canceled elections 😂
😂😂😂Bit Zelinski no have position.. You will see if one day whant to make peace deal 🤔Zelinski is no one to put signature on agreement.. So war is going on.. 🤐🤐🤐🤫
Zelensky is not even a legit president
His term in office expired last may.
What is he doing there anyway, he is no longer president!
Better to be judged by 12 men than carried by 6.
5:00 In Mariupol, there are no Ukrainian draft officers on the strrets, and people are living very peacefully. A lot of people who left in 2022 have returned home.
It's glorious Russia.
Yes because Mariupol has returned home to Mother Russia.
That's because most of the men are either gone (censored for youtube) or conscripted into the RuzZian army.
Where is freedom and democracy 😂
Us. Brings Demon-crazzy and free-doom
They are trying to align themselves with the west (freedom and democracy) and are being invaded by Russia (authoritarian dictatorship)
Oligarchs are quite free in Ukraine
The way things are going in Ukraine and the collective West, freedom and democracy are alive and well in Russia!!!
Yeah, there was never any of those in ruSSia, so all you can do is to laugh at the idea.
Is the idea of joining NATO worth all this mess?
No
They will never be in NATO...
Yes
Yes n no
@@kripis12hw?
It's almost like they are unmotivated to fight for someone that beat um up, stuffed them into a van, and then sent them to the front line with barely any training.
I choose prison than Frontline
"quoting from an Ukraine blogger "the door of jail will open , the coffin will not "
Coward
Every man with brain would do that.
Which is why no one will remember your name...
@@Lao_Xiashinobody in the West tells the truth about the death toll and you expect people to remember their names?!
Am Scottish, The Chinese or Russians could come across the English Channel tomorrow, No one will fight for this country, Not anymore
The Chinese and Indians already own Britain. No need to come over.
Neither have any desire to do so. The west was the only colonialists.
You say it as if you have the option to not fight and keep going on with your life as usual. If the russians, or the chinese invaded you, they would put you doggy position and make you their beetch in less than 48 hours. You are delusional 😂 😂
As some friends of mine found out during WW2, sometimes the enemy that h a t e s you treats you better than your own government.
Sad
Ukraine is losing and they don't want to die
Corruption and stupidity.
😂😂😂
Yes
😂😂😂😂 this western propaganda channel got to knows this news now 😂😂😂 but other media told this thing from a month … i hope it’s time for all this western media and Ukrainian civilian can see the battlefield reality
At least the truth gets told in the West in the end. In Russia its just lies, and lies and even lies, with any room for the truth ever
and even now they dont show the brutal reality but a very very embellished one. means: they are still lying.
@@babahanuman83 They are very good at lying while they and their politicians encouraging the ukrainians teenagers to go soon die, after some few months they will make a movies about it to demonise Russia
Okay Boris, whatever helps you sleep at night
@@suicidalbanananana so your saying ukraine is winning?
it's fascinating how people insist on always using the phrase "Russia's full-scale invasion" as if it is super important to always describe it as such.
like calling it simply "Russia's invasion" would be a hate crime.
when I hear a phrase being repeated so insistently, it makes me think maybe it was not as "full-scale" as they are trying to make it.
Well, neither side had a full mobilization. Though washington was pressing zelenskiy to allow recruiting the kids, so far he protected the youngest generations by allowing mobilization only for 25+ old. At least giving them the chance to start a family, so that he does not end with a country with no new generation growing up. But Jenny Side Joe insisted on different priorities. We will see what Trump does.
It's because russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 but it was a limited, disguised invasion. In 2022 russia has done a full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Its not full scale, because Russia only uses 600k troops +/-. Also it is not "unprovoked" invasion, the way they try to pass it off. They neve explained Russian depmands, goals and what was happening in East Ukraine before that invasion. How and what treaties have been broken beforehand and by who. There is allot to that. Calling it "Russia's full-scale invasion" is simply a media attempt to make it as if Russia are bad guys, Urkaien are good guys. Thats not how it works in real life.
The media used to all call it an "unprovoked invasion" but it probably got too embarrassing when people started pointing out actually yeah it was provoked so maybe that's why it got changed to "full scale invasion"
@@mnemonija Unfortunately, they started an open discussion about lowering conscription age to 18. Bad sign.
They are tired of being deceived by the creators of this selfish war.
"Why are Ukrainian soldiers running away"? This is the dumbest question I have ever heard.
They run away from death .
And what will they say when the Maidan regime sends their 18 years old sons to replace their dead husbands ??
More slogans, more patriotic fairy tales how they are winning, and how Ukraine will become another Switzerland.
Will see, I think they try to avoid to send their own sons, as usual.
Ukraine reminds me about germany during WW2.
Because they will never send them. Currently war is just way fir Zelenski to keep power + money
If your doesnt return after 1 year.. there DEAD
Probably...
Ukraine 🇺🇦 Parliament needs to investigate Zelensky and all his cabinets .. Corruption is the root of all this drama.. Zelensky should just resign..
You think zelensky calls the shots 😂😂😂😂😂 LOL NO IT'S WASHINGTON
@@IsaacMuntzUp to now Biden is paying the wages of everyone plus pensions and death payments to families.
STOP THE WAR NATO!!
Lmao Nato is the one who cause it to sell more membership and weapons.
So those ones handling military papers can't be on the front line but are giving paper to those who are even older than them, this is ridiculous
Exactly
So history legends was right.
He's right in alot of things
They don’t want to die😢…
Negotiations can bring peace, people don’t want to die for zelensky and west!
The sad reality (on both sides) is many fathers, sons and uncles will not come back and ones who do will be so damaged that they'll forever be away.
If people don't understand these things, nothing will ever change.😢
That's a lie.
I was raised by my grandfather, who went through the entire war against Hitler.
And in Russia there were almost all such men and many women.
They were kind, helpful people. Who knew the value of life, who knew the value of friendship and who knew the value of love for the Motherland.
Yeah, I've been warning my Ukrainian friends about that. They're not prepared for what's coming when the war is over.
Russia is the defender of freedom.. from NATO colonialist
😂😂😂😂😂😂 not on both sides! Soldiers are desserting only in ukrein
zelensky is evil
Vazelinski doesnt care. He and coup regime want to stay in power of Ukraine at all cost. And this cost is exactly what you see.
They rejected the war and realized that the war is not for Ukrainian interest war but for sake of European proxy and NATO.
It's an US Neocons proxy war !
Blackrock, they own 30 % of ukraine now.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, sit back and enjoy the show: we are in a historical time, where the world order as we know it is collapsing, a new one emerges and the main loser will be Europe, especially Western Europe, whereas Russia positioned itself the best for the future among the European nations. Meanwhile, Western Europe keeps on excelling at shooting itself in the foot. Love from Switzerland.
Whats more to add , US is backing up and adding duty tarrifs on EU . Spitting in the face of EU politicians who blindly followed their leader US for decades... how sad is the European Union... how retar**d...
ruSSia positioned itself for the future 🤣
Future with whom? North Korea? 😁
I love vague statements that sound smart and prophetic. Keep it up. Don't go into any details and facts, it would ruin the fun
You probably forgot that western Europe it's Just an American colony nothing more
Russia has always offered mutually beneficial cooperation, but the problem is that the West does not want to be a partner for Russia, the West wants to be its master.
Russians simply do not like this version of "democracy" )
WHY? Because they were trainned by french soldiers who taught them how to wave white flag, surrender and defection.
Poor soldier living in a lie and in Zelensky reality.
Imagine dying for greedy U.S politicians, bankers, defence contractors so that they can have the resources in your country but believe you are defending your country smh.
Because they are smart and not ready to die for some corporate interst!
Waste of innocent lives, only for American interest 😢
But accordingly to western media ,Ukraine was winning and Russian is out of ammo😂
They consider the western public opinion as sheep they can feed any sort of junk
This isn't democracy. Each and everyone have his rights. When they're out there fighting for their country. The ministers and other government personals are in their mansion enjoying.
They got tired of winning!!!
😂
Ukrainian soldiers are dropping like flies. Over a million have died so far, no wonder the Ukrainian authorities are so desperate to recruit new soldiers.
The wounded, injured, disabled are more, a ratio of 3 to 1.
@@peterh.1521, from what source exactly? Fakenews BBC or CNN?
Wait so they're winning but they don't have enough men because their 2 million man army doesn't have enough in the brigades? Ok you guys are sending meat into the meat grinder what are you doing. 😂
@zad_time_reload420 I think it has to be more. Probably 1.8 million
@@calebsone1630 If that is true then Ukraine is doomed as a nation.
Why should they be compelled to fight a war not of their doing but that of the EU and its friends???
It's a US Neocons proxy war !
Proxy war as is.
Check the "Ukranianness of" President of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Ukraine and last two defense ministers of Ukraine
I am in favor of the France 24 editorial team being ordered to the Ukrainian front. Your title alone is a mockery of the people who want to live. We live in the 21st century and have the same rhetoric in the media as in the 1940s.
Right
Why did the US just order air strikes in Somalia? How is Somalia, a place where people die of hunger, a threat to the US?
Starting Wars is how you sell weapons…Who do you think supplies NATO ?
These draft officers should go to frontline.
I thought the Ukraine is winning!
women should step up and not hide after men's backs
Your mom 😊
"As of January 2024, more than 62,000 women serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), making up 7.3% of the total force. This number has increased significantly since Russia's invasion in February 2022."
Too much distraction on the battlefield
7.3% is very little, it should be 50%, also, all these 62,000 women are volunteers, not conscripts like the men are.
@ianjohnson1328 Ukrainians aren't Westerners, and I'm sure based upon the survival of their Country, are less uptight about it.
why sacrifice themselves for Blackrock Inc.?
a few months back, zelensky presented the victory plan.
Well, apparently, not all Ukrainians believed in this "plan" )
Well, that didn't work, did it
You fighting for the comedian🤣🤣🤣
Better than fighting for botox grandma
Comedian that fights against the second army in the world for three years so far…Imagine how humiliated Putin feels.
@@talixiusSame thing diffrent names.
I am from Sweden, it is the same here.
Dual citizens are in position of power. Check the early life section of " President of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Ukraine and last two defense ministers of Ukraine.
Hold that protest outside the US embassy.
Nato using them that's the reason they left
It's so funny to listen to something about NATO-standarts while NATO has never participated in full-scale war against Russia.
Я думаю, НАТО не боеспособная организация. Это как Вавилонская башня, смешение языков и народов. Невозможно управлять ими.
See they are running away see😂😂😂there are videos they are forcefully taking them 😂😂leftist media is white washing them
Yes we see? Who's whitewashing what?
@ France leftist media whitewashing Ukrainian war crimes
@@getcake8680 You seem to be having reading comprehension skills of a shoe.
yes, but also russia has had extremely large amount of AWOL cases as well, unable to flee the country do to extremely high flight prices. In any war there will be people running away, as they are also just people and they dont want to die.
@ The fact is french media is reporting on this because recently in france a bunch of Ukranians deserted. The Russian bot is acting as if Russian propaganda was right about things all along which is completely idiotic. no one is pretending Ukraine has no problems. but one thing is for sure, and that is Putin controlled media is telling more lies than truth and that is obvious to anyone with critical thinking skills.
Look how victories have defeated you.
They join the Zelensky's friends in Western Europe... to be part of the resistance on the French Riviera and the Champs_Elysees...
It's time for Zalensky to see the big picture . Many young lives are being lost in a war that was totally unnecessary. Ukraine will always be a neighbour to Russia . Neighbors need to get on with each other . Warring is not the answer.
Why don't you say that to Putin, who has been targeting peaceful civilians for three years now?
@@aburakadabura2any proof of that?
@@paulurban2472 Is there evidence that it isn't?
@@aburakadabura2 is their evidence that America didn’t kill millions of people in Iraq? Innocent till proven guilty
@@aburakadabura2 Playing all innocent, are we? Being neighbours with ru but flirting with NATO. What could possibly go wrong?
boris would volunteer bringing hair dryer and hair gel....
I have watched tourist videos of Ukraine where the streets are full of young men of fighting age who are not at the front lines. Whereas others are stuck at the front lines for 1,000+ days. How is that fair?
That's bcoz of the corruption mentioned in the video. The rich escaped being drafted, while the poor were sent to the line of contact. Heard even soldiers bribe their superiors to escape being sent to the front line.
then settle it so the soldiers can go back home.
this is exactly why Ukraine cannot win this war. the moment the money stops coming from the US, the war is finished.... no more Ukraine as a country, Ukraine will be another region part of Russia.
Kiev (where these videos are from) is a capitole city, and does not represent entire Urkaine. THere they dont snatch young men for exact purpose - not to make it look bad for foreign eyes and media.
Is it worth joining NATO when rich are partying in Europe without being drafted while poors are dying in trenches without proper burial
One ukraian guy paid 5k euros to come here to Croatia so he wouldn't be drafted into the army, that's what I heard from his colleague.
"Why are Ukrainian soldiers leaving their units and how to get them back?" Because they see whats going on and got smart, and don't want to die for american hegemony.
Bcz they dont want to tell the truth they ask why soldiers leave..
Hopefully they realize they have become grist for the mill of America's empire.
Be calm guys Ukraine is almost on pollish borders 😂 they are winning
You're really funny!😂😅
Why are they only drafting men, i thought we are all for equality.
This war must end! Even giving up some territory. Human life is sacred ! Land has value when human live not when they die !
Ukraine will later realise that it is better not to accept to be a friend of the US because it is dangerous.
Territory is not the main reason Russia is fighting. It's Ukraine's existence as a whole is a threat to Russia, since it's trying so hard to join NATO and EU - which is extreme threat to Russia economically and militarily. Before the conflict Russia been voicing its security concerns and been demanding Urkaine's NEUTRALITY, plus demanded to get rid off neo-nazi Bandera ideology and repression against Russian language and culture in the soviety! Plus stop NATO expansion towards its borders. All of that in February of 2021 was voiced by Russia and successfully ignored by EU and US.
We were told russia was fighting with shovels
An individual should never be forced to sacrifice their life for a country if they don't want to.
Zelenskyy need to go in jail with his government for this people who died in the “name of democracy “
I've got a friend in Ukraine with 3 sons of military age with families of their own and she wants to get them out but even with jobs that exempt them from being dragged off the streets, they're all afraid that that won't last much longer. They all want to get out before it's too late like any intelligent person would but they can't. They're anti-Russia but so far everybody in Ukraine that I've talked to is anti-Russia and anti-war. Even with the propaganda from both Ukraine and NATO, the feeling is starting to get through to the people that they're losing the war since the men never come home and are never heard from again.
Now if only the leaders in the West could get it through their rotten heads that this is going to be nothing but devastation for the people and culture of Ukraine and actually care what will happen to anybody but themselves.
Propaganda channel.... ukraine is winning
😂😂
😂😂
Congrats 🎉
So they are winning while retreating? wtf is between your two ears? Probably a puddle.
Bu..but Ukraine is winning.....right?
Why should the Govt be able to coerce to fight a war you are not interested in, whether it is your country doing the attacking or your country is the one being attacked?
Why should corporate states, ie territories under the control of financial and industrial cartels. be able to coerce its citizens to fight wars?
Because the leaders are afraid.
women who are mad that military age men are walking around when they themselves have no risk of being drafted are the most selfish type of people.
"I am mad that he is not sacrificing enough even though I have no risk at all!"
They trying to pass it off as if its World War 2, and they all "must stand up for their motherland", defending it. The reality is , they are defending Vazelinski and 2014 coup-imposde regime. Theya re the ones who fear defeat the most.
You said "Ukraine is winning"
So, they got tired of winning?
Shovels and washing machines made all the difference🤔
How can F 24 take responsibility to Thousands thousands families who lost their son or husband?
If French MSM want them back, why not send French on the frontlines.
No need to return them, leave them alone.
Please show some mercy on other human beings. They just want to see tomorrow' sun.
Draft officers looks like they could eat own medicine.
Because they were trainned in France
Yes. Alot of people don't know this.
No wars between slavs !!!
They believe they can still turn the tide, what a delusional thinking
Not being born a coward and fighting to protect your land and family is not delusional.
Crystal meth is a hell of a drug
They don't want to fight for American interests.
The lightning speed they fled the army showed that these soldiers are world class soldiers.
Finally, the soldiers find out they can't fight under Zielinski, leadership who is not legitimate leader of the country
French trained units running away and surrendering is making full use of their training lol 😅
They are leaving because its a lost cause . Even little kids know a stronger force is on the other side and there is no way to win this fight. Many lives could have been saved already... its not about right or wrong.. its just weaker side and stronger... save lives while you still can all of you.