A group of young adults gathers in a square in the southern port city of Odesa. In this group, mostly women, are among others a psychologist, an entrepreneur, and a lawyer. What they share is a passion for an independent Ukraine and a positive attitude towards the army.
The group boards a rundown bus and departs for a nature area about an hour outside the fashionable resort town. They are going to get acquainted with the 38th Marine Brigade during a weekend of sports, games, and survival training.
Most are in their twenties and thirties, but the atmosphere on this warm morning is adolescently exuberant. Leaving the city, which is permanently plagued by air raid alarms and Russian airstrikes, gives a great sense of relief.
It is a friendlier method to compensate for the shortage of personnel than forcing men to serve. That leads to social unrest.
Hard action against refusers
President Putin is considering a large-scale mobilization of tens of thousands of soldiers for a possible autumn offensive. For Ukraine, however, it is not so easy to recruit more soldiers. And in fact, that is becoming increasingly difficult.
An estimated 300,000 Ukrainian men have gone into hiding or fled to avoid conscription. The Ukrainian army, which counts about 800,000 military personnel, cannot afford so many refusers and deserters.
The Territorial Recruitment Centers (DTsK) are therefore taking increasingly tough measures. On social media, numerous videos circulate of DTsK soldiers dragging young men into inconspicuous vans. This regularly ends in fights because bystanders interfere and try to free the boys.
The 'bussification', as the tension over recruitment is called, is perhaps the most sensitive political topic in Ukrainian society. How much pressure from the army this exhausted society can bear is the big question at the moment.
'Motivating youth'
Hence the survival weekend. Oleksander Malysj, wearing a light blue beret, is a recruitment sergeant with the marines: "This motivates young people to join the army. Our legendary armed forces urgently need new recruits now."
The sergeant with an anchor on his beret hopes for more than just acquaintance and understanding. "I think it is a great achievement if ten people sign a contract here. If there are more, we will guarantee that they will be placed exactly where they want."
That is not unimportant. There is great fear among men of military age of being assigned to a random military unit. Not all commanders handle human lives with equal care. These kinds of 'butchers' are for many boys a reason to go into hiding or flee the country.
Countering misunderstanding
Participant Jana, a child psychologist, thinks the weekends help to supplement the depleted ranks of the army. "We are active in our communities, share our experiences. I show photos online. Maybe someone then thinks: 'Interesting, maybe I will look into this further.'"
According to Jana and the organization, strengthening the bond between the army and society is an equally important goal of this weekend: "Often soldiers returning from combat operations face misunderstanding."
Would she herself consider signing a contract with the army? "Maybe, in principle I say yes. It depends on whether my expertise is needed." Jana does not give a wholehearted yes; she withdraws to her tent to change for a game with air rifles.
Provocative question
The official spokesperson of the marines finds the question about how much 'bussification' Ukraine can handle "provocative." "But I will try to answer. Some support the idea of mobilization because it concerns our survival. Others are strongly opposed and feel they were not born for war. Still, I would say: if we don't do it, no one else will do it for us."
In other words, harder pressure is inevitable, the major implies.
Jana also finds it a difficult subject for a cheerful afternoon with innocent air rifles. She has now changed and wears a mask and protective goggles: "There is no simple yes or no. It depends on your inner strength. Are you willing to reconcile yourself with this or not?" And then the child psychologist quickly joins her group.