Recently they made a law allowing 18 to 22 year old men to leave the country, here in Ukraine.

Disclaimer: I am Danish and moved to Ukraine in 2018, my husband is Ukrainian. I love Ukraine, I am not "trash talking" the whole country, just because I discuss Ukrainian conscription, I talk about the things which affect MY life. I have zero interest in talking about random politics, these personal posts are primarily for my friends.

I read in the news today that no guys in the age group showed on the boarders to leave the country, and that on one boarder, there were 10 vans camped. 😬

I want to believe this isn't a way to kidnap these guys, but the conscription has gone so far that it's possible, and the fact that no one has showed up yet means that they're afraid that it is.

I am thinking the vans might be there in case older guys try to cross the boarder with fabricated certificates, but I can understand the suspicion. I think many people confuse what's done, with what's legal. Many foreigners seem to think that it's legal to kidnap people off the streets just because that's what they do. It isn't legal, men should have a right to refuse the army, and face the consequences of that choice, such as a fine or even jail time. Picking people up in the streets and driving them away is wrong.

Today they are coming to people's apartments, so we closed all our windows even though it's pretty hot. This past year has been the worst, as it has been impossible for men to safely go outside the entire summer. My husband's best friend, his cousin, was recruited this year, and one of his uncles were recently sent to the frontlines.

It is terrible that things have to be this way, but I fear the end of the war is nowhere in sight. I believe it might last another 2 to 3 years. I sometimes get scared that it's gonna be one of those wars which just go on endlessly. 😔

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awildsheepschase

Maybe, just suggesting, it was for now two years women and children were given the ability to leave and they want to try to give right/ability for those who lost family and love a way to find their children and wives to be with their families?

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase I don't really understand what you're talking about, could you elaborate?

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings Women and children were given right to leave where men weren't. Maybe now they are giving to those men you can see their family? I remember news articles from two years ago, where the Ukraine with neighbouring countries would find a way for loved ones to be away from war and harm and men were being conscripted to fight in the war. Sad. They'd be sheltered even while Russia would bomb avenues for those vulnerable.

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase Yes, men are not allowed to leave the country unless certain factors apply to them, and are conscripted yes. Men under 25 are however never conscripted. I was immensely happy when they made this law, but I understand why they're suspecious. Hopefully the suspicion proves wrong.

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings I can't answer this part, but it's either they know everything is about to go wrong, or things are about to end. I would check about under 25 are never conscripted, because if you are an army you need those with most physical attributes. With a draft, almost anywhere I think in history if you were above 25 you were considered old.

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase Yes but you also need some men alive to rebuild the country, and the reason these rules are in place is in large part to prevent people uprising. We can only wait and see what happens, but most likely it's legit and these young are not going to get captured on the boarder. I guess someone has to be the first one to try.

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings It makes me nervous if they are now letting them leave. I can never tell in what I hear in the news now if the Ukraine has more to be worried about now since Trump is in power, and it was easier to know one time the Ukraine maybe had an ally where as now I feel the Ukraine is facing a threat where it no longer exists. If I were Zelensky, or a general, in charge being human either way (safer now or facing more harm) I'd want those with loved ones to see their loved ones.

I'd be worried they are being told exit now

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase It is just Ukraine, not "the Ukraine", just saying because putting "the" in front of the country's name can be seen as insulting to some people, due to historical reasons.

If you want to know about what's going on over here and such, feel free to ask me and my husband. You can always read Ukrainian news in English language on Pravda too. They have the translation built into the site.

When Trump became president, it affected Ukraine negatively in several ways; Trump does not help Ukraine for free, so we had to sign over our natural mineral resources to the US in return for weapons now. The weapon deliveries are less reliable. Trump also stopped isolation of Russia, which means that Russia is now more comfortable internationally, with more means of influence in the diplomatic sphere.

I am not sure if many Americans are actually aware of this, but Trump has the means to end the war in Ukraine any time he wants to, and so did Biden. In order to end the war, the US can easily pressure Russia with sanctions to a point where this war is no longer profitable for Russia, but that would cause prices in your country to go up.

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings Oh I've been corrected this way, but that doesn't mean my insight is wrong. There is no country who conscripts older people before younger people, that's foolish in thought. Almost every country says put your country before the people. But I guess logic forgoes such thought and how I care is told by how I used 'the'...

Damn even my grandfather loved his eyesight was lacking and he was a little bit older so he could become a messenger instead of combat. But hey I have no memory of conflict, meaning, and my support was actually to you while I thought you looking the wrong way

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase It was just a sidenote that there's no "the" before "Ukraine", it's not related to anything else. I meant to say it politely.

In Ukraine we conscribe men between ages 25 to 60. I understand the logic behind conscribing younger men, but I don't think the people in Ukraine would stand for it.

Most EU countries put people before their country nowadays, but that's not to say it can't change if we are unfortunate enough to experience World War III. In my homeland Denmark, there is no nationalist mentality at all for example.

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings I'm also not American

Nightwings · 31-35, F

@awildsheepschase Ah, sorry for saying "your country" then! (=

awildsheepschase

@Nightwings That part is fine, Canadians also don't have the experience of war the same way, even possibly more distant because we find a way not to involve ourselves in, but I'm very empathetic and compassionate and not from the country who finds a way to support and find ways to make wars continue. 😞