In the center of a country caught in the throes of war, a burgeoning new army is stepping up to the plate. Luntik, 20, is now part of Ukraine’s freshest conscription. His courage and determination are a reflection of his classmates’ as they join up to defend their country against the Russian invasion. Luntik, having lost his parents at a young age, was raised by foster parents in Lviv. He represents the hopes of all of those young people who are answering their country’s new call to arms.
For Luntik, the leap into military service is very much a personal one. His brother Serhii, 22, was killed in extensive combat around Bakhmut earlier in the war. Sadly, Serhii was killed by a sniper with a shot to the neck, an experience that has changed Luntik’s purpose forever. Though he is about to enlist with a reconnaissance unit and talks of personal vengeance, he insists that his dedication is much deeper than this.
“I’m not just here to avenge my brother,” – Luntik
His feelings are not uncommon among the other young recruits, who tend to be between 18 and 24 years of age. They’re desperate to enlist in Ukraine’s armed forces before they reach the 25-year-old age limit. Fears of possible conscription The minimum age requirements for possible conscription have been slowly reduced from 27 to 25 and now 18. Both the Biden and Trump administrations strongly advocated for this change.
This cohort, towards which Ukraine’s military has aggressively pursued recruiting efforts, have primarily filled Ukraine’s most prestigious units, such as the Azov regiment. The government offers appealing incentives such as a bonus of 1 million hryvnias (nearly £18,000), zero percent mortgages, and a short-term contract lasting just one year. Despite their good work, fewer than 500 young candidates have registered as of yet. That’s a far cry from the original 10,000 person sign-up list.
Luntik and his fellow recruits aren’t going to the frontline until June. The impact of their decision weighs heavily upon them. They are prudent, perhaps it should be said that all of them are conscious of the risks in their commitments.
“I didn’t come here to play cat and mouse. I know all the risks. I understand there is a situation where I might not come back,” – Luntik
Volodymyr, a 22-year-old recent conscript, is preparing to take on an even tougher front lines infantry role. He turns 23 in a little over a month. What these new, young soldiers understand about what lies before them. This understanding informs their mindset, as they move forward in strategically training for the battles that lie ahead.
It’s young people like Luntik and Volodymyr who are taking the initiative to make change happen. At the same time, military luminaries like Oleksiy Moskalenko are spreading word about that generation’s mindset. Moskalenko notes the harsh realities of warfare, emphasizing that “it is easy to lose your life,” which informs their decisions.
“A strategy to survive – it’s rational to distance yourself from it,” – Oleksiy Moskalenko
We know that the decision to join is not an easy one. Luntik expresses this feeling succinctly, likening the war to an intruder that threatens one’s home.
“When the thief is coming to your house and you are afraid he might harm you or kill your wife, you will take actions and, if necessary, kill the thief,” – Luntik
This decision illustrates a larger American commitment to face outside threats in the face of greater opposition. For young Ukrainians such as Luntik, military service is a patriotic quest. It is a beautiful thing to see — the determination of young people to ensure their own future and that of their country.