Back in early March, when the war in Ukraine was only 10 days old, I asked whether it was wise for Western countries to pour arms into Ukraine, since this could easily prolong the conflict, leading to many more Ukrainian deaths. Other commentators have raised the same question, including the New York Times editorial board.
A common answer is that Ukrainians want to fight. In other words, even if pouring arms in does prolong the conflict, that’s a risk Ukrainians are willing to take. And certainly, many Ukrainians do want to fight. But is this true of enough Ukrainians to give the argument force?
After all, Ukraine is under martial law. As of 24th February, able-bodied men aged 18–60 are banned from leaving the country – a measure which arguably violates their human rights. Even citizens who live abroad but happened to be visiting on the date of Russia’s invasion have been unable to leave.
At the present time, only soldiers and reservists are obliged to take up arms. But as losses mount, others could be drafted. And evidence suggests that losses are mounting. Zelensky recently told Newsmax that Ukraine is losing about 600 men a day – 60-100 killed, plus 500 wounded. Over a month, this adds up to 18,000 men. These figures almost certainly underestimate total casualties, as they refer only to the Donbas, and may not include those who are missing in action.
In a recent interview with Channel 4, one British man who went to fight said he wouldn’t stop others from going “as long as you understand the reality that you will be used as cannon fodder”.
Supplying arms to a country that has banned men from leaving is fundamentally different from supplying arms to a country that has a wholly professional (i.e., volunteer) army. In the latter case, everyone who takes part in combat was aware of the risks when he signed up. In the former case, this simply isn’t true.
Weapons the West has supplied to Ukraine may end up in the hands of men who never wanted to fight. And some of those men may die. Back in April, the New York Times spoke to a number of men who did not want to fight. One said he had two nephews in the Russian army, and did not want to “kill my own family”.
If the West is to continue arming Ukraine, we should – at the very least – insist that those men who wish to leave the country be allowed to do so.
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Can’t join you
in person but 
here’s wishing 
you a splendid evening. 
I subscribed to Comedy Unleashed YouTube channel when Dominic Frisbee put up a couple of vids
but they haven’t done anything there for 6 months.
online there. 
Let’s hope we can join the fun
Comedy Unleashed is where I first witnessed Tania during lockdown 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcuHGn8Y7wA
If she has new material, then for sure I’ll try and vector in…
Brilliant we need a good Laugh
Stand in the Park Sundays from 10am – make friends & keep sane
Wokingham – Howard Palmer Gardens Wokingham RG40 2HD
Bracknell South Hill Park, Rear Lawn, Bracknell RG12 7PA (Also Wednesdays from 2pm)
JOIN Telegram http://t.me/astandintheparkbracknell
Good post, should be more like this.
I’ll come when Andrew Lawrence is one of the performers.
When are the Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast shows going to be?
Could do with a show in Northern England too. Getting to London is either extortionately expensive by train, or takes hours by coach.
Don’t forget Thurso, Inverness and Kirkwall, please.
St Ives and Totnes even though they are full of aging hippy Lockdown maniacs.
Shame Andrew Lawrence is not on the list
Good strategy for a pundemic.
I’ll certainly need the “numerous breaks” but not to fill my glass sadly.
I cannot join you,1) because I have to have a covid test before an NHS procedure ( Save the NHS, get the jab, blah, blah, blah) and 2) because it’s a bit far from South Devon to come for a show, but I would love to be there. To those who DO manage to go – have a great time