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Sad indeed. Do you see any creative options? I wonder if the Ukrainians could try to make it super easy and somewhat attractive for Russian soldiers to defect

Sad indeed. Do you see any creative options? I wonder if the Ukrainians could try to make it super easy and somewhat attractive for Russian soldiers to defect. Maybe the EU could fund desertion bonuses for Russian soldiers and make a deal with remote countries like Paraguay to temporarily resettle them? Could be a very cost efficient and humane way to tilt the military power balance. It would also put economic pressure on the Russian military apparatus to increase soliers' wages, and Ukraine would get hold of some much needed gear.

ilammy 5y ago
> I wonder if the Ukrainians could try to make it super easy and somewhat attractive for Russian soldiers to defect. That's what they constantly calling for: surrender if you're in the action. It's very attractive when the alternative is getting shot. Of course, there's matter of what to do with POWs after this is over, whether to kick them out back to Russia from them to taken to the wall or to the gulags. But that would be later. The problem is acting on that when you're a soldier. All soldiers of all countries are brainwashed into following orders, not making they personal educated decisions about every operation they participate in. It's also a bit hard to just go and surrender when you're not cued in into what's happening and was not following news for the past week from the comfort of your home. It's a bit hard to surrender immediately when your first contact with the other side starts with a strike on your column and gunfire in your direction.
- FpUser 5y ago
  >" whether to kick them out back to Russia from them to taken to the wall or to the gulags." I think if that's the offer they'll pass
FpUser 5y ago
This is very good idea. Not sure about Paraguay as it will just guarantee nothing but miserable life but if offered resettlement into West I think they would leave in droves. Putin might wake up without the soldiers.
ketzo 5y ago
I saw a comment on Twitter from a Russian expat saying something like “if the EU offered NATO citizenship to every Russian soldier, this war would be over tomorrow morning.” Obviously a lot of magic-wand-waving there. But… seriously, is it that crazy?
- whatshisface 5y ago
  Well, NATO citizenship doesn't exist as a concept, so taken literally, yes. NATO is a defensive pact between nations, not a supergovernment like the EU.
ttyprintk 5y ago
They could not guarantee the safe transport of their families away from Russian reach for this to succeed spontaneously.

ilammy 5y ago

> I wonder if the Ukrainians could try to make it super easy and somewhat attractive for Russian soldiers to defect. That's what they constantly calling for: surrender if you're in the action. It's very attractive when the alternative is getting shot. Of course, there's matter of what to do with POWs after this is over, whether to kick them out back to Russia from them to taken to the wall or to the gulags. But that would be later. The problem is acting on that when you're a soldier. All soldiers of all countries are brainwashed into following orders, not making they personal educated decisions about every operation they participate in. It's also a bit hard to just go and surrender when you're not cued in into what's happening and was not following news for the past week from the comfort of your home. It's a bit hard to surrender immediately when your first contact with the other side starts with a strike on your column and gunfire in your direction.

FpUser 5y ago
>" whether to kick them out back to Russia from them to taken to the wall or to the gulags." I think if that's the offer they'll pass

FpUser 5y ago

This is very good idea. Not sure about Paraguay as it will just guarantee nothing but miserable life but if offered resettlement into West I think they would leave in droves. Putin might wake up without the soldiers.

ketzo 5y ago

I saw a comment on Twitter from a Russian expat saying something like “if the EU offered NATO citizenship to every Russian soldier, this war would be over tomorrow morning.” Obviously a lot of magic-wand-waving there. But… seriously, is it that crazy?

whatshisface 5y ago
Well, NATO citizenship doesn't exist as a concept, so taken literally, yes. NATO is a defensive pact between nations, not a supergovernment like the EU.

ttyprintk 5y ago

They could not guarantee the safe transport of their families away from Russian reach for this to succeed spontaneously.