In January 2024, my previous car was destroyed by a tank in the Kharkiv region. That car was funded by readers, and found and brought by Serhiy Hrishyn. Afterwards, money was raised for another vehicle, also found by Serhiy, but it required an important part delivered by a soldier demobilized due to injury. This man later helped volunteers, then served in air defense and the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC). Recently, this soldier was killed in Lviv.
This is my first video with comments disabled: I want only those with critical thinking to reflect. Society has contributed to the creation of "heroism" among draft dodgers and the opposition to the military—an alarming trend. After the death of the fighter, many people openly rejoiced. Although problems and corruption scandals in the TRC are discussed, this doesn't change the fact society has revalued its attitude towards military personnel.
The romanticization of draft dodging has become popular on social networks, and some gloat over the deaths of defenders. This is possible due to the lack of public reaction to crimes against soldiers and a decline in respect. Hostile information campaigns fuel the situation, with bot accounts posting laughing emojis under posts about soldiers' deaths—but there are also real Ukrainians who spread such messages.
Civilians are increasingly not reacting to attacks against service members, and even wish death upon them online. Some now disdain the military or see them as a threat. Reasons include survivor's guilt, insecurity, and the impact of information warfare.
Despite flaws and scandals around the TRC, the main danger is that military personnel are ever more often perceived as outsiders. This is strategically dangerous: society must maintain respect for defenders and recognize the real external threats.
