Forced conscription backfires in Ukraine

Only Zelenskyy stands in way of peace as no-one left to fight

- RODNEY ATKINSON

THE Ukrainian army is facing waves of desertion from conscripts as the popularity of their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, plummets.

After the Russian incursion into Kharkiv province, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov admitted in an interview with the New York Times: 'All our troops are now either in Kharkov or in Chasov Yar. I used everything we have.

Unfortunately, we don't have anyone left in reserve.' The French news agency, AFP, reported on Russia's push into Kharkiv, stating: "The Ukrainian army is struggling to line up 250,000 men on the front line. In all the brigades, there is a 40 per cent shortage of personnel." A Ukrainian officer admitted: "We are facing a wave of desertion among young conscripts." While a French soldier returning from the front after an observation mission noted: "In Kiev, they no longer talk to us about arms but about recruitment problems." Since the coming into force of the new troop mobilisation law on May 18, the streets of Ukrainian towns are deserted.

Big firms with predominantly male workforces are warning of loss of workers to the army, and production cuts.