Infantry battalion officer Andriy Ilienko believes that the state must employ 'legal coercion' and strengthen punishments for draft evasion. He cites the experiences of the USA and Britain during World War II and calls for increased accountability for evaders.
There must be a certain element of state coercion, legal coercion... It's unfair. A person who is already in the army, regardless of who they are, should not receive a harsher punishment than an evader... - emphasized Ilienko.
He also notes that the number of volunteers to replenish units has decreased, as many people do not want their choice of which unit to join to be made for them.
Issue of Desertion
Ilienko also comments on the situation with unit replenishment and the issue of desertion (DS). He explains that this is not a usual situation, but a major war in which people may make decisions under various influences. The officer emphasizes that some soldiers who went AWOL later return, but not all.
Andriy Ilienko calls on the citizens of Ukraine to realize that in the case of disobedience, some may end up in an occupying army, recalling his own experience when his battalion captured a citizen of Ukraine.
During the war in Ukraine, the officer emphasizes the importance of the state applying legal coercion and strengthening criminal liabilities for evaders. He also addresses the issue of desertion and urges citizens to be aware of the potential consequences of their actions during this difficult period.