War, Desperation, and the Blurred Lines of Truth

Russian and Ukrainian War Criminals Should be Held to Account Someday

For months, reports have surfaced alleging that mentally disabled men are being sent to the front lines in Ukraine. Some claim evidence of a collapsing military effort; others dismiss it as propaganda. As with many war stories, the reality is more complicated.

A recent case from last year, reported by The New York Times, Business Insider, and a somewhat related article in Time, describes how a Ukrainian man with a documented mental disability was conscripted before legal intervention prevented his deployment.

Ukraine, struggling to fill its ranks, has allegedly resorted to aggressive recruitment tactics, some pushing legal and moral boundaries. Russia, too, has long been accused of using prisoners and conscripts with minimal training as cannon fodder.