"Can't Handle Desertion"… Ukraine Undergoes Military Training at Work Instead of Army [News in War History]

Unable to Handle Deserters, Overhaul Conscription Law
In Ancient Times, Deserters Were Linked to Collective Punishment
Uncertain if Ukraine's Chronic Corruption Will Be Resolved

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the Ukrainian government is drawing attention by reforming its conscription system. Reforming conscription during a time of war when troop recruitment is critical is an unusual move, attracting interest from Western countries such as the United States and Europe. In particular, this issue is intertwined with the rapidly increasing problem of 'deserters' in Ukraine, making it a significant variable in whether the Ukrainian government can resolve this issue during the war.

In Ukraine, where the war has prolonged and casualties have sharply increased, the practice of draft evasion has become severe, and the number of deserters has reportedly risen to an uncontrollable level. In this article, we will explore the issue of deserters, one of the most challenging problems commanders have faced since ancient times.

"Paying $5,000 to forge medical certificates or deserting to flee abroad"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

First, let's look at the news. According to the British Guardian on the 9th (local time), the Ukrainian government and the ruling party are preparing a reform plan for conscription. The plan moves away from the current system of conscripting all men over 25 for basic military training followed by deployment to the front lines. Instead, it proposes military training at universities and workplaces, with personnel assigned according to their professions or specialties.

Making significant changes to the conscription system during wartime is highly unusual, so there is keen interest in whether this will affect the war situation. Concerns arise because the number of shells and weapons supplied by the US and Western countries has decreased, and Ukrainian forces are gradually being pushed back by Russian troops on the eastern front, raising fears of troop shortages.

However, the reason the Ukrainian government is undertaking conscription reform despite concerns about troop shortages is reportedly due to the severe problem of deserters. The Guardian pointed out that men can avoid conscription by paying about $5,000 (approximately 6.62 million KRW) to obtain forged medical certificates, and the number of men fleeing abroad has also significantly increased.

The deserter problem has troubled commanders since ancient times... Collective punishment also applied

In fact, the problem of deserters is as old as human history itself. Until the 19th century, it is said that there were far more deserters than casualties on battlefields.

Because of this, during the Warring States period in ancient China, the Qin (秦) dynasty introduced collective punishment among soldiers. The Chinese character '오 (伍)', often used when saying "march in ranks and files," is related to this collective punishment system.

The character literally means a group of five people. It was the most basic military unit during the Qin dynasty, comparable to a squad today. The leader of this unit was called '오장 (伍長)'. Soldiers belonging to this unit were required to stay together on the battlefield, and if one soldier deserted during combat, all members of the unit were punished collectively.

According to the 'Jun Jue L? (軍爵律)', a military law from the 3rd century BC recorded in the Chinese historical text 'Shiji (史記)', if even one soldier deserted from the unit, the remaining four were sentenced to two years of forced labor. Subsequent Chinese dynasties also applied this collective punishment system to deserters, which reportedly significantly reduced the number of desertions.

Harsh punishments for deserters were also common in the West. In 18th-century Prussia, known for its strict military discipline, there was a pursuit unit that executed deserters without exception. This unit, composed of officers on horseback, patrolled the battlefield to shoot soldiers who fled backward. It is even said that tents were not allowed to be darkened at night to prevent soldiers from escaping under cover of darkness.

Ukraine's unique military corruption also plays a role... Growing international concern

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The chronic problem of deserters, common to armies throughout history and across cultures, is especially pronounced in Ukraine due to severe military corruption. Last year, Ukraine replaced most of its military leadership, including the defense minister, due to multiple serious corruption scandals.

In last year's Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Ukraine ranked 116th out of 180 countries surveyed, indicating a persistently high level of corruption. One of the main reasons some members of the US Congress oppose arms support to Ukraine is this corruption issue. Some lawmakers have even suggested that weapons exported to Ukraine should have an electronic tracking system to monitor whether they are properly deployed.

Ultimately, no matter how drastic the conscription reform during wartime, it is difficult to quickly resolve military corruption and draft evasion in Ukraine, where corruption is widespread. The international community is closely watching how this conscription reform will impact the overall war and front lines.