Nov 27, 2023 at 8:42 PM Update: 16 minutes ago
NU.nl regularly gives you an overview of the situation in Ukraine. This time: Ukraine wants to use commercial companies to recruit new people for the army. The US says it and NATO will underline their support for Ukraine this week.
The Ukrainian government’s plans for recruiting new people for the army will probably be explained this week, reports The Guardian. The British newspaper spoke to Oleksiy Danilov, member of the Ukrainian security council. According to Danilov, the government mainly wants to provide more clarity about what role ordinary Ukrainian citizens can play within the armed forces.
“Some people are afraid, afraid to die, afraid to shoot. But that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute in some other way,” says Danilov.
To achieve that goal, the government will use commercial recruitment companies. This should bring citizens with certain skills into better focus. “For example, the army needs welders. We are now going to announce those types of positions so that people can sign up for them,” Danilov explains. According to him, Ukrainians really want to do their part, but not directly to the front.
With the new approach, the government wants to avoid having to resort to mandatory mobilization in the event of manpower shortages. This would not only create a lot of fear, but also encourage corruption. Local officials would arrange exemption papers for a fee.
According to the authorities, many Ukrainians want to do their part, but not to the front. Photo: Getty Images
US wants to remove doubts about support
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the foreign ministers of NATO member states will meet in Brussels. During those sessions, the US and NATO will underline their support for Ukraine. The US Department of State announced this on Monday.
“It’s part of the process of creating a place for Ukraine within the alliance. Because that’s where Ukraine’s future lies,” said James O’Brien, the US State Department’s envoy for Europe.
With the planned statement, the United States seems to want to remove doubts about its commitment to the struggle that Ukraine is waging, especially now that the war between Hamas and Israel is demanding almost all the attention.
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‘Putin sends soldiers to their death’
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps states in a statement on X that Russia has stepped up its invasion. Ukraine would desperately need Western support to stop the Russian attack waves. Shapps accuses President Vladimir Putin of sending Russian soldiers to their deaths “senselessly”.
Shapps’ statements follow an update from his ministry on the progress of the war. According to the British, the past month and a half has been the deadliest period for the Russians since the start of the war. This is mainly due to the attempts to make territorial gains near the town of Avdiika.
The Ukrainians claim that almost a thousand Russian soldiers die every day. The British Ministry of Defense says it cannot confirm those numbers, but they do sound “plausible” according to the British.
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2023-11-27 19:42:00
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