Ukrainian commanders blaming unmotivated conscripts for lost ground – AP

Newly conscripted Ukrainian reinforcement soldiers often lack training and the will to fight Russia, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing complaints from commanders on the ground.

Earlier this month, Kiev sent some of its best-equipped and experienced soldiers to seize Russian territory in Kursk Region, claiming that the maneuver would alleviate pressure elsewhere on the front line and strengthen Ukraine’s position during eventual peace talks with Moscow. Despite this, the progress of Russian forces on other areas of the frontline has continued.

The Ukrainians have continued to lose ground partially because of the low quality of troops that Kiev is conscripting under its new military mobilization system introduced this year, the news agency suggested.

”Some people don’t want to shoot. They see the enemy in the firing position in trenches but don’t open fire,” said a frustrated battalion commander. “That is why our men are dying.”

Some new troops don’t know how to assemble their rifles nor understand the basic tactics of even a small unit, the officer said. A leader cannot be sure if such people are capable of executing orders, he added.

Commanders and soldiers described recruits who are “unable to shoot targets and uninformed about basic topography,” AP said. Some had no faith in their commanders’ orders, and simply fled.

”The main problem is the survival instinct of newcomers,” a veteran soldier told the news outlet. “Before, people could stand until the last moment to hold the position. Now, even when there is light shelling of firing positions, they are retreating.” There are some motivated people among the new recruits, but “just very, very few,” he added.

Kiev is trying to boost its recruitment drive by threatening heavy punishment for those who avoid the draft. It has also asked Western nations to lean on refugees residing in their countries to pressure them into returning home and reporting for duty.

Multiple videos circulating online suggest that Ukrainian draft officers are routinely resorting to force to snatch unwilling men from the streets and deliver them to conscription centers for processing.

Before the Kursk incursion, Moscow offered Kiev a ceasefire in exchange for renouncing its NATO membership bid and withdrawing its troops from territories claimed by Russia. Now the deal is off the table for the foreseeable future, according to Russian officials.

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