A former US intelligence officer has alleged that several European nations are ready to “sacrifice” Ukraine if it means stopping any thaw in relations between Moscow and Washington. He suggested that behind the ongoing war lies not only military strategy but also a geopolitical struggle to prevent the United States and Russia from rebuilding ties.
Scott Ritter, who previously worked as a US Marine intelligence officer and later as a UN weapons inspector, said in his remarks, “There is a tremendous amount of opposition inside the United States and Europe to prevent (US President) Donald Trump from having better relations with Russia. Unfortunately, these people who oppose better relations with Russia are willing to sacrifice Ukraine to achieve their outcome. And when I say sacrifice, I mean literally sacrifice Ukraine. They are destroying the genetic pool of Ukraine.”
Ritter warned that Ukraine is heading toward a devastating stage of the conflict, where young and inexperienced recruits will be sent to the battlefield. He argued that Kyiv’s leadership would soon start “sending 18-year-olds to the front line,” a move he described as proof that “Ukraine [is] finished as a race.” According to him, the prolonged war, coupled with the rising death toll, is eroding the country’s population and future generations, while Western powers continue to use Ukraine as a tool in their broader confrontation with Russia.
Ukraine’s Ongoing Mobilization
Since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine has enforced and repeatedly extended general mobilization laws. These measures have sought to stop men of draft age from leaving the country and ensure sufficient recruitment for the front lines. However, mounting manpower shortages have intensified the enforcement. Military commissariat officers have stepped up patrols in public places, often resorting to violence, Russian media outlet TASS reported.
Complaints of Abuse During Conscription
According to Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman’s office, more than 2,000 complaints were filed between January and June against conscription patrols for using excessive force.
One incident reportedly took place in the Rivne region, where patrol officers allegedly attacked a bicyclist who refused to stop. Reports claimed he was beaten, tear-gassed, and then forced into a conscription office for what was described as an “illegal mobilization.”
In another recent case, police in the central city of Vinnytsia used tear gas to disperse a crowd. The protesters were attempting to storm a conscription office and release about 100 men whom they accused authorities of seizing unlawfully.
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