Not really sure what to think about this one. On the one hand it does seem like a sensible implementation (unlike Russia’s), but is it worth it?
The amount of additional recruits seems to be very limited (2 now, up to 50 under review as of now) and comes with additional work. Can’t really see those numbers change anything in a meaningful way.
And on the other hand you give critics an easy target to attack. Now they get any easy way to downplay Russia’s use of prisoners (“see they are doing it too”), make Ukraine seem desperate (“they are running out of recruits and are scraping the barrel”), or any number of false stories.
In an ideal world that wouldn’t have an effect, but sadly it does.
The west has dragged its feet for almost two years, and continues to, in fully supporting Ukraine. Ukraine is a much smaller country than Russia, who know they can win a war of attrition.
All of Europe and the US should be mobilizing to support Ukraine and put Russia completely into their place, as they should have done immediately. So hard and fast it should have been, their heads would spin and forget who they are by the time they end up back in Moscow.
What you’re describing exist within Nato, attack one country means war with all of them. But Ukraine was/is not in Nato yet. If Nato starts defending non Nato countries as if they where Nato countries then why would they join?
This is also why there are so many talks about Ukrain joining Nato because then i bet we would see this kind of force happening.
I am not saying i agree with this reality but i am absolutely sure this is why it is like that.
I mean i agree that more should be done and faster, but on the topic of prisoner conscription, i think this makes it harder for the west to act. Since there isn’t an obligation like Nato, which someone already mentioned, any aid has to gather popular support. And i can imagine how the downside mentioned above could negatively affect that.
But it also gives these men the opportunity to serve their country. As I understood the process is limited to non violent offenders and also removes the construction of previously convicted felons to serve. As people with a criminal record could also not serve.
It does open Ukraine up to comments of the type you describe.
