Ukraine's 'avoiders' try to dodge being drafted into a bloody war

As Ukraine enters its fourth year of full-scale war following Russia's invasion, its armed forces face a growing crisis.

Transcript

00:00Three years into the war, Ukraine is in dire need of new troops to help its exhausted soldiers

00:07on the battlefield.

00:10Ukrainian army brigades have hyped up mobilization campaigns.

00:14But the influx of civilian volunteers eager to join the military has dwindled, and the

00:19number of draft dodgers is rising.

00:23Aslan, not his real name, is one of the so-called avoiders.

00:29He never ventures outside without a car.

00:59Efforts were made to improve mobilization conditions, but the lack of demobilization

01:23terms added to controversial recruitment methods and corruption scandals are strong

01:28deterrents.

01:29Nazar, a real estate agent, also mostly works from home to avoid recruitment patrols.

01:36Being forcefully sent to the front line would be a one-way ticket, he says.

02:06The many flags planted here on Maidan Square in Kyiv demonstrate the very high tribute

02:10that Ukraine has paid to the war, and it's not likely to stop.

02:14The government wishes to recruit 200,000 more soldiers this year, a task that's likely to

02:20be increasingly challenging.

02:22I'm Valery Gorya in Kyiv for Euronews.