“Overcome Fear”
Well-known Ukrainian soldiers advertise for recruits
08/17/2023, 10:11 p.m
Cases of corruption in recruiting offices are not exactly conducive to the search for new soldiers for the Ukrainian army. After Selenskyj dumped all the bosses there, the deputy defense minister is now presenting a new campaign that relies on military models.
In the midst of a counter-offensive that has been going on for more than two months, Ukraine is launching a new recruiting campaign. In professionally designed videos, well-known soldiers in the Ukrainian population describe their fears, which is intended to counteract a major obstacle to recruitment. “We are all human,” said Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar. “We overcome that fear to win.” One of the Ssoldiers on a poster says something like: “Everyone is afraid. But the enemy is even more afraid of us.”
At the same time, Maljar urged all citizens of military age to do their duty and keep the drafting authorities up to date with their personal information. The minister emphasized that not everyone who volunteered would be automatically drafted, and that not all those drafted would be deployed in the combat zone.
Maljar also pledged to root out corruption in the recruitment process. “Trust between citizens and (recruitment centers) is important,” she added. “We’re just taking a step toward that trust.” Scandals involving bribery and crude recruiting tactics have plagued the Ukrainian military.
Decree signed to dismiss all recruiting chiefs
Zelenskyy signed a decree today, Thursday, approving the decision made last week to sack all regional recruiting bureau heads. Previously, a nationwide investigation had brought numerous cases of corruption and abuse to light. “This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery in war are treason.” Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Saluschnyj was entrusted with the implementation of the decision, said Zelenskyj.
The attempt to find new soldiers comes as Ukraine makes headway in its counter-offensive to retake occupied territories. In particular, minefields and Russian defenses in the southeast presented a major obstacle.